Today I’d like to talk about computers in the classroom. Recently, the English Department at CWC asked to move all our classes into classrooms which did not have student computers. Ultimately our request was denied, but what’s important to this discussion is why would we want to do that?
I know that for many of our students, computers in the classroom have been as commonplace as chalk was when I was in grade school. For those of us who started teaching before the advent of the classroom computer, some of the changes have been a bit disturbing. It’s really difficult to teach a class when most of the students heads are buried in the computer.
Now there is nothing new about distractions in the classroom. I used to put my copy of MAD magazine behind my textbook so teacher couldn’t see it. Staring out the window was popular, as was doodling as a pretense of note taking. What’s different about a computer as a distraction?
Well, the computer is so darned compelling, for one thing. It’s hard to sit with it right there in front of you and not turn it on and make it do stuff. I have the same problem in my office. I should be reading the textbook, or grading papers, but here’s this amazing piece of technology right here in my face. Facebook and YouTube are just a couple of clicks a way.
It is also true that most students have this amazing technology in their pockets. Take away the classroom computer, it’s often argued, and they’ll just open their iPad or smartphone and do the same thing.
I’m not so sure of that. There is something about a school-owned computer on your desk that says “Go ahead and use this, we want you to. Help yourself, check the sports news, like your friends status, do whatever you want, it’s OK with us.”
The drag is that sometimes it’s great for students to have the computer on their desks. I love it when they go out and find more information about a subject, or look up a word, or get a picture of what their talking about. I hate to shut down this kind of activity, but, seriously, sometimes I can’t get a single student to look at me even though I am openly begging for their attention.
We have a new piece of technology that I am hoping will be the answer. If gives the instructor more control over the students computers, and what is really cool is that it allows the instructor to put individual student’s screens up on the big screen I front of the class. That means a student will be able to go find something interesting and be able to show it to the rest of the class. That would be great.
It also means I would be able to shut off student’s access to the internet at my discretion. I know that sounds like kind of a power grab, but I just don’t know how else to get a handle on the situation.
So, what do you think? Should teachers be able to control student's internet access?
