Introduction
In Old Media, New Media, and Knowledge, J. D. Applen introduces the ideas of Marshall McLuhan, who said, “the medium is the message.” McLuhan states that every new medium brings more than faster communication; it changes the culture. Having this idea with technology in the classroom changes the environment drastically. He believes in constant tasks rather than deep critical thinking. In my opinion, understanding what is being taught is getting lost; it is more about how it is taught.
Whether that be kids can get a lesson on the water cycle from a teacher in the front of the classroom. The teacher actively engages with the students and thinks about each step to ensure they absorb the correct information vs. having students watch a twenty-minute video on the water cycle. They are not actively participating in the lesson but just sitting in one spot looking at a screen. The answer is obvious, but with technology, the kids retain more information from the video rather than the teacher.
What can help
As educators, it is our job to have the best interest of our students’ learning on the frontline. This got me thinking about the article “Pedagogy and the Logic of Platforms,” .Where author Chris Gilliard explained that educational technology platforms often prioritize data collection, monetization, efficiency, and surveillance over student success. We have to be aware of the type of technology we use in the classrooms. Also how to implement them in beneficial ways. Falling into transactional learning through tech, a practice where the focus is on the exchange of information rather than the understanding of concepts. Is common today; sites like Google Classroom or Classroom Dojo can lead to this, losing the meaning and impact actual teaching has.
Closing
Given that technology is not neutral, it is our responsibility as educators to fully comprehend the implications of what we are introducing to our students. We must be proactive in realizing the appropriate role and time that technology should have in the classroom.
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