Technology: It’s Electric

Have you ever heard of the electric slide? It’s electric because it isn’t a difficult dance, it is easy for people to catch on. You might see this dance at a party or family event. Technology is not the new thing. It’s the thing that keeps on being a thing (it’s electric), giving us tools and resources that empower us to do more, stretch farther, meet needs, and solve problems. By design, technology might be said to make our jobs a bit easier, or better yet, allow us to be more efficient in the classroom every day.

It Isn’t Just Electronic

We must consider that technology is not just those things that require electricity to operate. They are not just the electronic devices that we wear on our waists or lug around in our bags. This summer, my students and I discussed how new and innovative ideas that are discovered, initiated, or embraced, and that help to meet a need or solve a problem in the world, can also be viewed as technology. It is a new way of doing something. A table, based on one’s viewpoint, is technology because when it was developed, it served to meet the need of having a space to work, eat, or simply sit and do what one chose to do. White boards in classrooms today are forms of technology because, comparative to chalk boards, they are less messy and more effective in being able to display information in a concise way.

The Grid Method is a technology, even thought its not a technology-based system or service. It is something new that was created to meet a need. Students are unique individuals. We are all unique, and thus, we don’t all learn the same way. Personalizing learning is such an important idea as it relates to knowing yourself, your path, and the direction you want to personally grow and develop to be your best self. As a learner, I have to say that when I am involved in the goal-making process, when I am involved in the identification of the learning targets, I possess greater motivation to actualize these goals and targets. A focus on mastery learning is inherent in development of skill sets that lead to success in an area.

As it applies to technology, there are skills that are necessary to be developed in order to use technology. These skills need to be developed before that technology is used to meet needs, solve problems, or aid in the completion of tasks.

So with all this technology comes responsibility. It exists in the world we live in. We can’t sit idly and not learn how to use it. We can’t walk to an ATM machine and expect to receive money from it, without knowing the way in which it works. We don’t look at an iPad device with the expectation of it doing anything without our influence. The same goes in our classrooms; we can’t bring in new technology and expect students to just run with it. We need to make sure we have helped them to master the skills necessary to use that technology efficiently, so that it effectively enhances their learning experience.

Technology is a Tool

Technology is a tool, and certainly not meant to take the place of quality instruction and learning. Technology can never take the place of human touch and interaction. We are, after all, social beings. When used correctly, technology can help to increase the drive we have to be social. It is important that we don’t lose sight of the need to be able to engage in social environments. If we focus on the use of technology as a tool to augment or expand the field of learning, it can be a valuable tool for learning. These tools ultimately aid in knowledge creation and lead our students to becoming lifelong learners.

About Dene Gainey

Dene is a ten-year classroom educator, having taught at several traditional public schools within Orange County, FL. He now teaches Language Arts (English) at a public charter school. Having a tremendous background in the arts, to include being a singer and songwriter, having acting experience and being a writer of poetry, short stories and plays, he is able to share a wealth of knowledge with students in the classroom experience in fourth and fifth grades. In addition to the arts, Mr. Gainey has served this great country as a part of the United States Air Force. He is currently in pursuit of a terminal degree, a doctorate of philosophy in higher education administration. Never too far from the classroom, he believes that you should never stop learning and he himself is a lifelong learner. He thoroughly enjoys learning and growing by means of his professional learning network, interacting with other educators and teacher leaders through Voxer, Twitter, EdCamps and conferences. Dene is currently in the process of writing two books as well as collaborating on a third with members of his PLN.

Connect With Dene

Visit Dene’s Website: denegainey.me
Follow Dene on twitter: @dene_gainey