Technology, The best or worst thing for education | Scott Widman | TEDxYouth@BSPR

Summary

The video script explores the dual nature of technology in the classroom, highlighting both its potential as an educational tool and its pitfalls, such as distractions and cyberbullying. The speaker, a middle school teacher, acknowledges the challenges of integrating technology and emphasizes the importance of digital literacy for Generation Z, who are digital natives. The key message is that educators have a responsibility to guide students in using technology responsibly, preparing them for the digital world beyond the classroom.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The debate on whether technology in the classroom is beneficial or harmful is ongoing and inconclusive.
• 👍 Technology can be a valuable tool for students, enhancing their research and learning capabilities.
• 👎 Technology can also be a distraction, with potential for misuse such as cheating or engaging in unrelated activities during class.
• 🔍 The speaker's personal experience with middle school students shows mixed outcomes when using technology in the classroom.
• 🌐 Searching for answers online has not provided a clear consensus, indicating the complexity of the issue.
• ⚠️ Technology poses risks such as cyberbullying and academic dishonesty, and can mimic addictive behaviors.
• 📚 Technology offers vast educational resources, making information readily accessible to students.
• 🚀 Technology is not a passing trend; its presence and influence are increasing rapidly.
• 👶 Generation Z, being digital natives, has never known a world without technology, making it an integral part of their environment.
• 💡 The key is not to ban technology due to its negative aspects but to educate students on its responsible use.
• 📘 Educators have a responsibility to prepare students for the digital world, including developing digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

Q & A

What is the speaker's initial stance on technology in the classroom?

The speaker is unsure whether technology in the classroom is beneficial or harmful to students, as they have observed both positive and negative outcomes.

What is an example of a positive use of technology in the classroom mentioned in the script?

Students using cellphones to research with multiple tabs open, cross-referencing sources, and citing information simultaneously.

What is an example of a negative use of technology in the classroom mentioned in the script?

Students streaming Netflix or using TikTok during class, which distracts them from learning.

What was the speaker's approach to finding a definitive answer about technology in education?

The speaker attempted to find an answer by googling 'technology in education' but found that the results were inconclusive and only added to the debate.

What are the three things we know to be true about technology in relation to students according to the script?

Technology can be dangerous, it can be infinitely valuable, and it isn't slowing down.

How does the speaker describe the potential risks of technology in the classroom?

The speaker mentions risks such as cyberbullying, academic dishonesty, and the potential for technology to mimic addiction symptoms.

What is the speaker's view on the value of technology in advancing student learning?

The speaker believes technology can advance student learning in ways that teachers or schools alone cannot replicate, providing a vast reservoir of information.

Why does the speaker argue that technology is not a fad and is here to stay?

The speaker states that technology is not a passing trend like bottle flipping; it has an enduring presence and is integral to the lives of students.

What term is used to describe students who have grown up with technology, and what does it imply?

The term 'digital natives' is used to describe students who have never experienced the world without the internet, cell phones, and constant access to information.

What does the speaker suggest is the responsibility of educators regarding technology in the classroom?

The speaker suggests that educators have a responsibility to prepare students for the challenges of being digital natives by providing opportunities to develop digital literacy skills.

Why does the speaker believe that the question of whether technology is beneficial or harmful is the wrong question to ask?

The speaker believes this question is misguided because it's not about the inherent nature of technology but about how educators can utilize it responsibly to prepare students for the digital world.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Debate on Technology in the Classroom

The speaker begins by posing a question about the impact of technology in the classroom on today's students, seeking opinions through a thumbs-up or thumbs-down gesture. The speaker admits uncertainty about whether technology is beneficial or harmful, citing personal experiences where technology aids research and cross-referencing but also noting distractions like streaming and social media use. The speaker's search for answers online only deepens the debate, revealing that technology can be both a dangerous minefield and an invaluable resource. The speaker concludes by acknowledging the rapid pace of technological advancement and the reality that today's students, known as Generation Z or digital natives, have never known a world without technology. The speaker suggests that the question of whether technology is beneficial or harmful is misguided, as it's an integral part of students' lives.

05:02

👨‍🏫 Embracing Technology as an Educational Responsibility

The speaker emphasizes that the real question is not whether technology is beneficial or harmful but how to harness it responsibly in education. As educators, the speaker argues that it's their duty to prepare students for the challenges of the digital world. The speaker points out that while schools might ban technology to curb issues like cyberbullying, this is only a temporary solution. Students will still encounter the digital environment outside the classroom, potentially unprepared. Therefore, the speaker concludes that it's the educators' responsibility to integrate technology into the classroom to develop students' digital literacy and prepare them to be independent lifelong learners.

Keywords

💡Technology in the Classroom

This concept refers to the integration of technological devices and tools into the educational environment. It is central to the video's theme, which explores the impact of technology on student learning. The script discusses both the positive and negative aspects of technology use in classrooms, such as enhancing research capabilities and causing distractions.

💡Digital Natives

Digital natives are individuals, particularly Generation Z, who have grown up with technology and the internet as an integral part of their lives. The video emphasizes that students are digital natives and thus, technology is not just a tool for them but an environment they are accustomed to. This understanding is crucial for educators to prepare students for the digital world.

💡Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to bully others, typically by posting negative or harmful messages. The script mentions cyberbullying as a danger that technology brings into the classroom, highlighting the negative social implications of technology use among students.

💡Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty encompasses various forms of cheating in an academic setting, including plagiarism and using unauthorized materials during exams. The video points out that technology can facilitate academic dishonesty, making it easier for students to cheat, which is a significant concern for educators.

💡Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is the ability to access, evaluate, create, and communicate information using technology. The script argues that developing digital literacy skills is a responsibility of educators, as it prepares students to navigate the digital world safely and effectively.

💡Distraction

In the context of the video, distraction refers to the potential for technology to divert students' attention away from learning, such as streaming Netflix or using social media during class. This keyword is used to illustrate the negative impact technology can have on classroom focus and engagement.

💡Research

Research in the script is depicted as an activity that can be enhanced by technology, allowing students to cross-reference sources and cite information efficiently. It exemplifies the beneficial aspect of technology in the classroom for information gathering and analysis.

💡Educational Technology

Educational technology encompasses the use of tools and processes for educational purposes, such as interactive whiteboards, learning management systems, and educational apps. The video discusses educational technology as a debatable topic with both advantages and disadvantages for students.

💡Infinite Value

The term 'infinite value' in the script refers to the boundless potential of technology to enrich learning experiences, providing access to vast amounts of information and resources that can empower both students and educators.

💡Addiction

Addiction, in the context of the video, is the potential for technology to create behaviors similar to substance addiction, which can be concerning for students' well-being. The script suggests that technology can mimic addiction symptoms, indicating a need for careful consideration of its use.

💡Independent Learners

Independent learners are individuals who can take initiative and responsibility for their own learning process. The video concludes that one of the educator's responsibilities is to provide opportunities for students to develop into independent learners, which includes navigating the digital landscape effectively.

Highlights

The debate on whether technology in the classroom is beneficial or harmful for students is ongoing and not easily resolved.

Technology can be a valuable tool for students when used for research and cross-referencing sources.

However, technology can also be a distraction, with students streaming videos or using social media during class.

The speaker admits uncertainty about the best approach to technology in education after five years of teaching middle school.

Google search results on technology in education present convincing arguments for both sides of the debate.

Three key takeaways about technology in relation to students are identified: danger, value, and the inevitability of its presence.

Technology poses risks such as cyberbullying, academic dishonesty, and potential addiction.

On the positive side, technology can greatly advance student learning and provide vast information resources.

Technology's pace is not slowing down, indicating its permanence in education and daily life.

Generation Z, being digital natives, has never experienced a world without the internet or smartphones.

Banning technology in schools as a solution to its negative impacts is only temporary.

Students will eventually face the same digital environment risks outside the classroom without proper preparation.

The question of technology's benefit or harm is misguided; the focus should be on preparing students for digital challenges.

Educators have a responsibility to integrate technology in the classroom to develop students' digital literacy.

The role of educators is to guide students in navigating the digital world safely and effectively.

The importance of fostering lifelong independent learners through the responsible use of technology in education.

Transcripts

I want to start off with the question

technology in the classroom is it better

or worse for our students today and I

want to kind of get your guys insight so

let's see it thumbs up if you think

technology in the classroom is more

beneficial to students all right now

give me a thumbs down if you think

technology in the classroom is more

harmful to students okay

good to get you guys's insights listen

little secret I must admit I've been

teaching middle school for five years

now and I have no idea whether

technology in the classroom is the best

thing in the world or the worst so

example if I'm having students use

cellphones to do some research I'm

always impressed when I see the kid

who's got multiple tabs open they're

cross-referencing sources and citing

information all at the same time and I

think wow technology in the classroom

what a valuable tool but then you see

the kid who's streaming Netflix or

literally doing a tick-tock mid class

and I think wow technology in the

classroom what a needless distraction

this is the problem right if my job as

an educator is to do what's best for my

students in terms of technology I don't

know what's best for my students so I

did what everyone what the question does

I googled it right

long story short googling did not go

well kind of muddied the waters turns

out if you google technology in

education you're gonna find hundreds of

articles that can convincingly argue

both sides from every angle so

admittedly no help there

but the key takeaway is this topics

debatable right and if it's debatable

despite the countless and noble elements

and pissing missing pieces to the puzzle

there are three things that we know to

be true about technology and regards our

students number one we know that

technology can be dangerous right

schools face things like cyber bullying

it can bring problems out of the

classroom into the classroom whether it

be academic dishonesty right it can

technology can make it easier to cheat

that's true and

recent evidence suggests that technology

can even mimic symptoms of addiction

which is concerning for a lot of reasons

but either way we know that technology

is a minefield and we got to be careful

the second thing we know technology can

be infinitely valuable it can advance

student learning in a way that no

teacher or school could ever replicate

it can act as a vast reservoir of

information that not only can turn any

expert into a layman or any layman into

an expert but can do so with a few short

flips of the thumb right so number two

we know technology can be infinitely

beneficial so if you keeping score at

home we are tied up it's one to one we

know technology is good we know

technology is bad and admittedly we're

no closer to answering our question but

the third point that we know to be true

about technology helps clear it up a

little bit third thing that we know is

that technology isn't slowing down in

fact it's speeding up it's safe to say

that technology isn't a fad like bottle

flipping doesn't have an expiration date

it's not going anywhere and if that's

the case and you're a student in 2019

you were born sometime after the year

2000 that makes 100 percent of our

student body card-carrying members of

Generation Z now Generation Z is most

commonly referred to as digital natives

and this term says it all because

they're defining quality is the fact

that they've never experienced the world

without the internet without cell phones

without complete access to the entire

world and if that's the case then that

means that to our students technology is

less of a device that they possess and

more of an environment that they inhabit

right so hypothetically if school is

experiencing cyber bullying issues let's

say they may decide to ban technology

because this the problem is clear

technology has a negative impact on

student learning and the solution is

simple no technology means no problems

but this solutions only

temporary when you consider eventually

that bells gonna rain right and at that

point students are gonna leave the

classroom they're gonna open their

locker they're gonna take out their

phones and they're gonna exit that

safety bubble at that point students are

gonna find themselves in a familiar

digital environment with the same risks

and dangers but this time maybe

inexperienced and underprepared so when

we re-examine the question is technology

more beneficial or harmful to our

students we realize that it's the wrong

question to ask because it doesn't

matter if technology is more beneficial

or harmful to our students when we

remember two things number one as

schools and educators our

responsibilities to do what's best for

our students and our students have a

device in their pocket that is both

infinitely valuable and infinitely

dangerous that's why it becomes clear

that utilizing technology in the

classroom is less of a choice and more

of a responsibility right because as

educators were men's horse and that

means it's our obligation to prepare

students for the challenges of being

digital natives as teachers we have

students practice skills all the time

but navigating digital waters takes

practice too and that's why it's our

responsibility to be able to provide

students with opportunities to develop

their digital literacy skills and become

lifelong independent learners thank you