Prompt #7 Contemplating Controversy

By:Jessica Lusky

In every field, there are many controversial topics that are debated in the news and sometimes even brought up through the U.S. law. In the field of education there are many controversies educators discuss regarding pay, government benefits, politics, common core standards, as well as relating to inside the classroom. As a student, these debates seem more prevalent considering I spend five days per week in the classroom. Issues such as the use of technology, social media, and the climate of the school are a constant topic in this field, technology striking me as the most popular topic of controversy.


Typically the wealthier school districts and educators believe that technology positively affects the students because they are able to afford the needed materials and realize the advantages. Professionals in the education field who support technology in the classrooms believe that it allows the instructor to experiment more in the ways they execute their lessons. Technology is also a pro in the classroom because students are more entertained and have more fun learning. Next, technology is argued to supply students with instant access to information that can be used to enhance their learning experience. Lastly, individuals who believe technology should be utilized in the classroom argue that we live in a digital world. They believe that students should not be taken back to the 19th century when they step foot in the classroom, but instead they should be prepared for the future submerged in technology.


The districts and individuals who believe that technology is a negative addition to the education system have also drawn conclusions from their experiences and research. This group believes that technology can cause a huge distraction and limit the social interaction that goes on in a classroom. Considering the population that argues the cons are typically the individuals and districts that do not have as much money to supply the technology for all of the students, they believe it is unfair to ask students to bring their own device (BYOD) because not every student has access to the same technology. Some devices have limited access to necessary programs that students could need to use and different textbook cites. In addition, technology could allow for cheating in class which leads to educators putting in more time and effort learning to use the devices the students could bring, and figuring out how to adapt to the programs and ensure students are unable to cheat on their assigned work.


Sources:
DeWitt, Peter. "10 Critical Issues Facing Education." Education Week - Finding Common Ground. N.p., 02 May 2016. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.

"The 6 Pros & Cons of Using Technology in Your Classroom." Top Hat Blog. N.p., 30 July 2015. Web. 22 Jan. 2017.