I was surfing the web the other day and I stumbled upon this cartoon. It made me stop and think about the role of technology in the classroom and varying viewpoints. Here, the cartoonist is making a pun that technology, specifically computers, do not encourage critical thinking. Some people argue that the use of computers is teaching kids to be less reliant on their own common-sense and critical thinking skills. "Just push the button to get the right answer" is a song sung by many. Spell check on programs like Microsoft Word also do not teach our students to be aware of their own spelling. What happened to the old pen and ink method? These are all concerns of some teachers and critics based upon their lack of technological knowledge.
Yes, it is true that technology can be used in a way that only requires students to "click on "answers,"" but when used in an effective way, it can be an asset to instruction that requires students to reach Bloom's higher levels of thinking such as synthesis or evaluation. With the use of the internet, students must know how to search the web, analyze varying web addresses to determine if the information is relevant to them, and then synthesize the information in a meaningful way. These steps require much critical thinking and are not simply a click and receive method. Yes, the internet gives students much easier access to information, but it does not lower their required level of critical thinking.
Thanks for your post. I agree that there are some concerns with technology interfering with students ability to critically think, as it can be used to think for you. At the same time as you mentioned, when it is used effectively it can allow students to reach higher levels of Bloom. Before the rise in technology students gained much of their information through textbooks. A single textbook used for say a history class, provides the student with a single perspective of history, it is there job as a student to memorize this narrative. However, through technology students have access to many different interpretations of history. Because of the diversity of resources at their fingertips they have the chance to think more critically, as you mentioned, to understand and decide which information is relevant to their understanding and learning. This would increase student opportunity for critical thought.
ReplyDelete