High-Tech Classrooms

Living in the information age, it is difficult to go amongst day-to-day activity without encountering a technologic dependency in one form or another. Electronics have been so complexly woven into our lives that it’s often hard to imagine living without them. This notion is not solely applicable to the tech-savvy adults of our world. The use of technology in classrooms is becoming increasingly more common with the belief that the benefits of high-tech learning are plentiful. But is this really the case? Is it possible that too much computer access for students may interfere with their education?

Many researches hypothesize that this may be so. Studies have found students that have lesser access to computers have higher marks in math, science, and reading than students who do. Manitoba high school teacher Michael Zwaagstra says “[students’] time would be better spent getting a solid grasp of the basics” rather than learning to use computers and software. Technology in the classroom is not only often distracting to students, but is also highly expensive. Manitoba alone spends more than $26 million each year on information technology in its schools.

Surely, this is not all put into impractical use. Technology has revolutionized the way students are taught. Information has never been easier to access and display in a stimulating and effective manner. Computers are a practical teaching-aid that can help students’ learning be more audio-visual and interesting. In a time where perpetual use of technology will be ever-present in young people’s lives, it would be of great benefit to get children familiar with the basic skills they’ll be using consistently.

I have no strong feelings towards either side of this argument. On one hand, I know that access to computers, iPads, and other devices of the like has helped me to be more productive, and the surplus of new information has expanded my world view tremendously. On the other hand, I’m grateful I spent many of my younger years as a student (kindergarten to Grade 4) with minimal use of technology. At such a young age, development of basic skills is critical and computers can be a major distraction from that. All in all, I believe it’s of upmost importance to find a balance between the two.