Entry #5: Reaction to Tarlow and Spangler article

This article aroused concerns about how an increasing use of technology may prevent children from developing critical thinking skills. The authors caution us to consider where these new technologies are taking us and whether it will do more harm than good to rely heavily on technology. One concern is that using a great deal of technology will make us lazy thinkers. Watching movies, listening to books on tape, and dictating to a computer are all ways that technology has made life easier. But is an easier life better? At first glance, we may be inclined to say yes. But I certainly think this is not always the case. I think we need to remember the importance of hard work and challenging tasks. Technology often makes us passive, because much of the work is now done for us. For example, given the opportunity to watch a movie instead of a book, we do not have to take the time to create our own images, ideas, and interpretations of the characters, themes, and plot written by the author. We can just absorb/accept what we are presented, instead of taking the time to think about the material and how the producer interpreted and presented the information.

I do not think however, that it is simply the use or prevalence of technology that will be the cause of children lacking critical thinking skills. Regardless of the way information is presented, it can either be analyzed and discussed, or simply accepted at face-value. Teachers must engage students in activities that promote critical thinking skill development. We become lazy thinkers when we are not asked to think. If we only require students to memorize and regurgitate information, then yes, we will become lazy thinkers. We need to ask why and more exploratory type questions to have students really start thinking critically. Maybe showing a video of a science experiment will give students the “answers” and not the experience of trying to develop an experiment themselves. But the video can be used as a valuable example that can prompt students to develop their own experiments. One of the most important parts of teaching is being able to ask great questions. Don’t let media and technology replace these teaching practices. I don’t think technology should be stand-alone educational tools. If they are, both students and teachers become lazy thinkers.

Interestingly, we often flood schools with technology, thinking it will be an automatic enhancement to learning and teaching. Certainly, the gains that can be achieved through using technology effectively in the classroom are well-documented. Yet, we always focus on what benefits come from the technology. Rarely, if at all, do we stop to look at the other side, at what is lost by using technology versus traditional methods. This is one question posed by McLuhan which we’ve looked at during class. There are many ways in which using technology may in fact prevent children from developing good critical thinking and literacy skills. But maybe we just need to think about new ways to teach these skills and thus avoid dangers of technology in making us lazy thinkers. One example is through teaching media literacy. This helps students evaluate the merit of various information sources. With the amazing amount of information now at our fingertips, this is a vital skill to teach students (Adams & Hamm, 2000). It addresses a need for students to develop critical thinking skills and at the same time, embraces the benefits of technology.


References

Adams, D. & Hamm, M. (2000, Winter). Literacy, learning, and media. Technos: Quarterly for Education and Technology. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0HKV/is_4_9/ai_68951438

Spangler, K.L. & Tarlow, M.C. (2001, November). Now more than ever: Will high-tech kids still think deeply?. The Education Digest, 67(3), 24-27.