Tech in the Classroom

I think it's crucial for students to be introduced to technology in the classroom.  As technology is increasingly changing so is the workplace.  If we want to set up our students for success in the future then they need to stay current on 21st-century trends.  Not only this, but just introducing children to this technology in the classroom will help them to discover potential interests and give them a basic understanding.  Children are introduced to typing skills, how to effectively search and find information and coding.   Even careers that aren't necessarily in the S.T.E.A.M. fields require at least a basic understanding of how to use computers and various apps.  I also think that the use of technology in our classrooms is getting students more interested in learning.  There are tons of fun, educational games and apps that many classrooms are using and children are not only having fun while learning, but they are more enthusiastic about learning.  Also, through the use of platforms such as Google Classroom, students are not only engaging more with one another, but also with their teachers.  With the use of internet and apps like Google Expeditions, children are able to discover and learn more than they ever have in the past!  Apps like Epic! and Tumble Books put libraries of books at a child's fingertips.  

While there are so many pros to including technology in the classroom, there are downsides. There is no denying that we are seeing the amount of children with ADHD at an all-time high.  Much of children's downtime is spent on video games, YouTube and television, and adding in extra screen time during the school day contributes to the problem.  I'm no expert in the effects screens have on our brains, but I recently attended a seminar with an occupational therapist who went into depths about how this 'one-way' input is actually rewiring not just children's brains but adults' alike.  Increased technology use by the means of computers and iPads also is affecting student's fine motor development and skills, as they are gripping and using writing utensils less.  While I personally love the exposure to 21st-century skills our youth is receiving, there definitely needs to be a healthy balance.