Present technology compared to what and how it was just a few years back is someone and seems like the answer to all of society’s problems. However, to the contrary , the late Steve Jobs, tech icon and visionary said, “ it ain’t so, we need to attack things at the root, which is people and how much freedom we give people…I wish it was as simple as giving it over to the computer”.
For years working with students and teachers….time and time again it is a proven fact that in every classroom no matter what level it is, where there is a teacher who has the dedication to empower her students to work hard so as to realize their potential, they will no doubt excel and triumph over all odds.
The whole educational system has made researches throughout the years trying to find answers to the gnawing problem of very low student academic performance. While technology as a tool in learning has advanced dramatically, still researches have confirmed that great teachers sharpen lives. Students with even one highly effective elementary school teacher in their first steps in their formal learning experience are more likely to advance to college, less likely to become pregnant as teens, less likely to get hooked to drugs, less likely to get involved in wayward groups and activities. In my humble opinion, heralding technology as an educational panacea is far from the ideal. We could never dismiss the indispensable role of “people”, the teacher.
Experiments on giving kids computers and leaving them to their own device to reach themselves and each other are common knowledge. While a few had good results, the idea that computers can replace teachers and schools reveals as deep lack of understanding about the leadership plays in a students’s success. Student’s must learn to build in themselves a sense of responsibility, gain skills and self confidence to become effective and contributing members of their community and the society at large. These can’t be learned by toying with computers.
In underprivileged and underserved communities where there is a shortage of qualified teachers, technology no doubt could be a tool to help teachers improved their performance and enrich student learning’s but it is not the be-all of what true, effective and workable education is all about.
Computer can’t create a culture of excellence. They can’;t push students to aim highly and meet expectations.
Computer can’t do home visits to get to know personally students’ families and involve them in the whole learning process and involve them in their progress.
Technology is a tool, not a silver bullet and like all tools, it may be helpful or harmful depending on how we use them.
By: Emma Jane B. Turda | T-III | Balon Elementary School | Balon Mariveles Bataan
