Being a classroom teacher, I have always prioritized the study habits of my pupils to be able to have an effective learning.
While I have consistently observed that students’ study habits nowadays have changed a lot. From the flickering light of candle to florescent lights….from sitting under the mango trees to sitting to a well-structured classroom…from looking at pictures in books to searching at the interne for visual aids.
Undeniably present technology compared to what and how it was just a few years back is awesome and seems like the answer to all the students’ need in their assignments and researchers.
Indeed, I admit based on my teaching experience that technology is simply a tool in learning. It has advanced dramatically the learning of a student. Technology, particularly computers may have yielded good results on the students’ effective learning is not really acceptable.
In fact in giving the students a sense of responsibility, gaining the skills and self-confidence are not learned by toying with the computers. These are acquired through formal lessons in the classroom conducted by the teachers.
In analogy, computers cannot create a culture of excellence. Computers simply push students to aim high and meet expectations. Practically, computers cannot do home visits to meet personally student’s family and involve them in the whole learning process.
For this, I came to conclude that technology is simple a tool not a silver bullet to students’ learning. It may be helpful or harmful depending on how students use technology specially computers in their studies. Experienced-wise, technology is a powerful force for student’s way of learning when guided by teachers who understand the effects of technology to education.
Conclusively, we cannot outcome the human connections at the heart of the teaching-learning experience. Transforming the lives and learning of our students will take more than a machine. Technology is here to enhance but not to replace the work that teachers are doing.
I wish I would not be misunderstood that I condemn our modern technology particularly the use of computers to aid the students’ learning. In fact, I welcome the use of computers as atool for our students to facilitate their learning. My point here is never rely anything on our modern technology when it comes to our student’s learning.
Remember what Steve Job’s a technology icon said: “it ain’t so. We need to attack things at the root, which are people how much freedom we give people. I wish it was simple as giving it over to the computers.”
The essence here is nothing replaces an effective teacher’s role in our students’ success in learning.
By: Belen M. Cheng | Teacher II | Renato L. Cayetano Memorial School | Mariveles Bataan
