According to a study conducted by Vicky Rideout, teachers believe that the constant use of digital technology is affecting attention spans and the ability to succeed in challenging tasks. Rideout, in an unrelated study, already found that children and teenagers, age 8 to 18, spend twice as much time with screens as they do in school. How am I supposed to compete with this? How am I supposed to take into consideration that every student learns differently, so when I do introduce technology, each student is successful with it? How am I supposed to retain my students attention when all they want to do is play with the iPads, or the SmartBoard? I need answers!
Now, I know, "Rome wasn't built in one day," and the answers to these questions are going to come when I have real life experience with my students and the use of technology, but these questions haunt my dreams. Especially after finding out that, "out of 685 teachers surveyed in the Common Sense Media, 71% believe that technology is hurting attention span "a lot," 60% said it hindered students' ability to write and communicate face to face, and 50% believe that technology hurts critical thinking and the ability to do homework with success.
So, fellow teacher candidates, does anyone have any response to my questions. Or does anyone have any idea how to incorporate learning styles and technology into the classroom, simultaneously? I'll pay you in compliments and smiles. (:
Compliments | Smiles |