technology vs. nature
Lately I have been struggling with the dichotomy of technology versus nature. I am in a school that was founded on Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning program. The school itself and my cooperating teacher strongly believe that students need to have as many learning experiences in the outdoors as possible. I agree.
However, the world that this generation of elementary school students is growing up in is not the same world that I grew up is (and I am only 28). I did not have an email account and my family did not even have a computer until I was in high school. Cell phones did not happen until college and I only adopted text messaging this year.
Who know where technology will be when these kids are my age. So the questions is: Do these children need to be learning about technology in elementary school to prepare them for the future? Some teachers (my cooperating teacher included) would say no. But I am not so sure. There are some wonderful learning tools out there that involve very basic computer technology. Many of these tools are blocked by my stone-aged school district.
So what is it that I think about the technology vs. nature debate?
I think kids should be outside as much as possible. I think that there is much to be learned from our natural world, things that computers just cannot teach us. I also think that technology is a great way to supplement a basic education. There are so many ways to engage students through technology. It is a part of their world. For example, the Many Voices for Darfur Project allowed students to collaborate, empowering them to do some amazing social justice work. Isn’t that what school is about, empowerment? Allowing kids to use their brains and find their voice? I see technology as a great way to give students voice and an outlet to use it!
