The journal article that I chose to review was written by a retired Social Studies teacher, Michael Clare, and is entitled, "'Power Corrupts, PowerPoint Corrupts Absolutely' Why Digital Technologies Did Not Change the Social Studies Classroom." I was drawn to this article because as I have mentioned in class, I am quite new to all of the digital technologies that we are having to use not only in this program, but which we will undoubtedly be faced with in the schools where we teach. I was interested to hear the opinion from a Social Studies teacher who has also been faced with this issue, and thought that he would have some insightful teaching philosophies to offer based on the engaging richness of traditional teaching methods. After reading the article, however, I was left feeling somewhat unsure of Clare's validity .
Clare's underlying argument is actually quite good: he states that Social Studies teachers should be eased into the world of digital technology, instead of being looked at as "techno geniuses," and that once the technology is in the classroom, that it should be used as an asset, or agent to assist the traditional curriculum, instead of dominating the lesson and acting as a deterrence away from it. I agree wholeheartedly with these main arguments; I have noticed within my own education experience, that a lot of the focus seems to have swayed away from the curriculum-what we are learning and doing, to the technology and the various digital means that we can explore. For example, instead of having discussion groups, we are having blogs, while both are interesting in their own respect, the question must be asked, which platform is more useful / beneficial to us, or to our future students?
Although I agreed with the main argument of Clare's article, I was actually quite unimpressed with most of its other components. His grammar and spelling were deplorable, which made for a frustrating read, and he seemed to characterize himself as somewhat of an embittered grandfather, who resents the new and modern trends of our developing world.
I think that Clare's main point is a good one: technology should not dominate the curriculum, but instead assist it, and that teachers need to be eased into this digital domain comfortably. If these things are accomplished, than technological resources could very well be a vital component of both the Social Studies learning and teaching experience.
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2 comments:
Welcome to the virtual classroom Lisa. Your intervention is provocative and articulate. Well argued point regarding the need for an eyes wide open approach to possibilities and problematics of technology into the classroom. The autonomous teacher need always ask the essential question (who benefits) of every decision from the most mundane routine to choices regarding textual materials and resources.
Thank you for the teaching.
I really like the way you've put yourself out there Lisa - it can be an intimidating assumption many people make that these days students (at any grade or post secondary level) just know the ins and outs of all the new technology out there in the world.
I like the point you highlighted about the authors opinion that technology should be used to assist course content rather than take student focus away from what the teacher may be trying to really get across. I can absolutely understand this point and would still never put the availability of the internet above the importance of grabbing a good old book.
I wonder though - what the future really will look like for the students we are teaching today. I remember hearing somewhere that Bill Gates had made some comment about how schools today are so far behind (almost primitive you might say...relatively speaking) in regard to what is happening in the world with technology compared to what is happening in the school with technology. I do sort of think that as often a teacher can get technology into the classroom without taking away from what the teacher is trying to get across - then maybe it should be done. I feel like not all young students have the access to computers at home wher they can 'figure it our on their own'... this puts some kids at a major disadvantage compared to their peers and this may effect them when they are adults and living in a very techonological world. I think at this point all students could benefit from specific opportunities in school to learn about this technology. I would argue that the lack of such a course in the BEd program we are currently in is unfortunate - such a required course is necessary, not only how to use this technology, but how to use it in a useful, efffcient and meaningful way in the subject areas that we teach.
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