I would not typically incorporate these types of personal technologies into the classroom because I feel like they could easily be a distraction. If a student were assigned to use YouTube, a social networking site, or even a cell phone, there are very many options accessible to the student that would keep the from staying on task. From my own personal experience, being on the Internet alone was enough of a distraction. I was easily capable of surfing other websites instead of completing the assignment. By students actually being on one of the websites students most likely use during their free time, they will be even more tempted to wander off task.
In certain situations, I do think this technology could be useful. I think that by incorporating blogs can make it easy for students to share ideas with their classmates and read about their peers' perspectives on different topics. I also think social networking sites can be useful in group projects in which students have to work outside of class. However, other than what I listed above, I do not see how many of the other personal technologies can be incorporated in the classroom and be beneficial to the students' learning. As I mentioned in my examples, I think that these types of personal technologies would best be incorporated outside of the classroom. Clearly, staying in contact with students is sometimes necessary outside of class and these types of technologies would provide an easy means to do so. However, actually incorporating them in in-class activities would only provide distraction. When students are in school, there are many times the students are looking for ways to have fun and pass time. If they have the opportunity to use websites that they could find some type of enjoyment out of in school, they would most likely take advantage of the situation. Therefore, I think it is necessary for educators to use their best judgment in choosing the technologies they use in their classrooms. I know when I become a teach, my incorporation of personal technologies will be scarce and will only be used in appropriate situations.
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I would have to say I agree with a lot of this post, however would you be opposed to using them personally as a teacher? Instead of the students surfing the sites by themselves, you as the teacher would show a you tube clip up on the board or assign a chat group question in a facebook group as homework.
ReplyDeleteI think that there is definitely a fine line when using technology in the classroom, and as future teachers we are going to start having a harder and harder time finding that line.