Can Technology Hurt

Shawn Atwood

Can Technology Hurt?

Lately I have been thinking a lot about technology in the classroom as a part of the instructional designing process. As I studied the Frick article as well as this week’s reading it is apparent to me that technology is becoming more and more fluent in the classroom. My question, however; is this: “How can I incorporate technology into the classroom without it being a distraction to my students?” I understand that if I have control over what is done with the technology then I have the power to illuminate distractions, but if the students have control over it, they might have the tendency to use the technology as a form of entertainment instead of as a learning tool. In addition to this, I wonder if technology ever hinders the learning process. For example, I have some students that are very fluent with i-pods, cell phones, and computers but they really struggle with reading, writing, spelling, and basic communication skills. They lack basic social skills and manners.