Correctly Utilizing Technology

 Our world today is heavily influenced by the various forms of technology that we use. More specifically, the way we communicate is perhaps the most affected. Digital communication makes us "closer" than we ever have been via instant emails, texts, face-time calls, etc. We can communicate with our friends and family instantly, but are we communicating with the same empathy as we have in the pre digital "era?" The common theme when it comes to communicating digitally is that the face-to-face value and dialogue is lost. There is no reading of body language or ability to empathize with the person you are talking to. The argument in favor of digital communication is the efficiency and versatility that comes with being able to talk all the time, from almost anywhere, with basically anyone. So which is the "correct" point of view? 

Let's address what digital communication looks like in a classroom setting. Being able to communicate with parents is almost as important as with the students themselves. Keeping parents in the loop is a crucial component to both accountability and expectations. Through the use of technology, the parents can stay involved and aware throughout the entirety of their child's academic career. Digital communication also offers parents and students opportunities to reach out with questions or concerns outside of a school setting, such as for homework, projects, or clarifications on in-class content. In the early stages of a student's academic career, digital communication has very little issues and concerns. As the students age, there is more opportunity for concern. 

As an educator, it's crucial to be aware of who you are teaching. Having a good idea of your student's general demographic is necessary to teach them, and even more necessary considering the influence technology has on very impressionable young individuals. As Christian educators, it's important to be aware the influence technology can have on our youth in regards to communication. With internet access at all time, it's understandable that young people will seize their opportunity to text their fiends, browse the web, and dive head first into a virtual world. This may make these young people more introverted, lacking some social skills, and prevent them from interacting with their peers or teachers in a way God intends. When an individual is speaking to someone else, there is rarely doubt or misunderstanding when reading body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. I've noticed in my personal life that the more prominent technology becomes, the less "feel" individuals begin to have. Some negative traits I've observed from digitally addicted people are tendencies of being condescending, arrogant, closed off mentally, stubborn, careless, and selfishness. 

Technology, like any good thing, can become a crutch if we indulge ourselves too frequently. A healthy utilization of tech for communication or resource purposes can heighten a student's ability to learn and grow, but too much can trap a student in a frame of mind that is near impossible to break.

Comments

  1. Anna RosakMarch 26, 2023 at 10:25 AM

    It was interesting how you brought up that while we are able to communicate more with more people now, is it really more because of the lack of empathy. I think COVID showed us a lot on how important face-to-face communication is and how much is lost when we cannot see faces, read body language, see expressions, and hear tones of voices. Digital communication is a great way to keep parents involved and engaged in the classroom, but we want to exercise caution and balance between the digital communication and the in-person relationships. In Ecclesiastes it talks about how there is a time for everything under the sun. I believe technology is included in that. There is a time for it, but there is also a time not to use it.

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  2. Sarah JacksonMarch 26, 2023 at 10:44 PM

    I appreciate that you mentioned the positive and negative affects that online communication can have on students. I agree that it can seem to take away from social skills, and cause a student to have difficulty building interpersonal relationships. Furthermore, the term "crutch" was well used, because technology can give an easy way out of challenging conversation, or even provide a more convenient form of communication without making an effort for in person encounters.

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