Over the past decade, the integration of technology in the education system has surged, with digital tools and devices becoming increasingly more prevalent in our childrens classrooms. While technology does offer numerous amounts of benefits, it is also essential to still recognize the enduring value of traditional educational tools such as paper, pencils, and erasers. School boards like the DSBN need to learn how to balance and incorporate both traditional and technological methods in their system. I want to discuss how educators now overuse technology which has now resulted in many lazy teaching practices and a decline in our childrens critical thinking and foundational skills.
The Enduring Value of Traditional Tools
Development of Fine Motor Skills: Writing with paper, pencils, and erasers helps develop fine motor skills, which are crucial for young learners. These skills are foundational for tasks requiring hand-eye coordination and precision. The physical act of writing reinforces neural pathways associated with learning and memory, something that typing on a keyboard cannot replicate.
Enhanced Cognitive Engagement: Traditional writing encourages cognitive engagement in ways that technology often does not. The process of writing by hand involves multiple cognitive processes, including comprehension, analysis, and synthesis. Research has shown that students who take handwritten notes tend to have better retention and understanding of the material compared to those who read and take notes on a device.
Improved Reading and Writing Skills: The use of paper and pencil supports the development of reading and writing skills. Writing by hand helps students learn spelling, grammar, and syntax through repetitive practice. Reading printed text allows for better focus and comprehension, free from the distractions that digital screens often present.
Personalization and Flexibility: Paper and pencil allow for greater personalization and flexibility in learning. Students can annotate, draw diagrams, and highlight important information, tailoring their notes to their learning styles. This level of customization is often more challenging to achieve with digital tools.
The Pitfalls Of Teachers Solely Using Technology
Promotion of Passive Learning: Overreliance on technology has led to passive learning, where students become recipients of information rather than active participants in their education. Interactive engagement, critical thinking, and problem-solving are often compromised when students passively consume content from screens.
Decline in Foundational Skills: Technology has eroded foundational skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic. For example, reliance on spell-check and grammar-check tools inhibits the development of essential language skills. Similarly, the use of calculators for basic arithmetic can weaken mental math abilities.
Distraction and Reduced Attention Span:Â Digital devices are prone to causing distractions. Notifications, social media, and games can divert students attention away from educational content, reducing their focus and productivity. Prolonged screen time is also associated with shorter attention spans and difficulties in concentration.
Lazy Teaching Practices: The overuse of technology has now created a whole system that promotes lazy teaching practices. Teachers now solely rely on pre-made digital content, reducing the effort invested in creating engaging and customized lesson plans. This has resulted in a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching, which can not address the diverse needs and learning styles of all students.
The Case for a Balanced Approach
Integration of Both Methods: A balanced approach that integrates traditional tools with technology offers the best of both worlds. Technology can enhance learning through interactive simulations, access to vast information, and multimedia resources. Meanwhile, paper and pencils ensure the development of fundamental skills and cognitive engagement.
Promoting Active Learning: Forcing teachers to use traditional methods with technology encourages active learning. Students can use digital tools for research and presentations while relying on paper for note-taking, brainstorming, and drafting. This hybrid approach fosters critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
Customized and Engaging Lessons: Teachers can use technology to enhance traditional teaching methods, creating customized and engaging lessons. For instance, they can incorporate multimedia presentations to complement handwritten notes or use educational apps to reinforce concepts taught through traditional means.
Balanced Skill Development: A hybrid approach ensures balanced skill development. Students benefit from the cognitive and motor skills developed through handwriting and the technological literacy essential for the modern world. This comprehensive skill set prepares them for diverse challenges in their academic and professional lives.
I will ensure that technology enhances, rather than replaces, traditional educational tools. While technology has its place, I will mandate that paper, pencils, and erasers remain essential components of our classrooms. Handwriting offers unique cognitive benefits and helps build skills that digital tools cannot fully replicate. Over-reliance on technology has led to passive learning and diminished the effectiveness of teaching, which I intend to correct.
Additionally, I will address educator complacency by requiring teachers to actively engage in their teaching. Teachers will be expected to create original content and deliver dynamic lessons, rather than simply presenting pre-made materials or content downloaded from others. If teachers resist these standards, it will highlight a lack of engagement and commitment to their role.
Just as DSBN employees expect their children to graduate high school fully prepared for college or university, I will demand that our education system uphold rigorous standards for our children also! I will implement a balanced approach that integrates both traditional methods and technological advancements. This strategy will ensure that students remain actively involved in their learning and will compel teachers to be more creative and engaging. By enforcing these changes, I will better equip our children with the diverse skills needed to succeed in an ever-evolving world.