Technology. It is amazing. I have software that averages my grades for me (and thank the good Lord for that one because I am completely useless with numbers). There is an online alert system that will automatically email parents when their kids are failing. I have a technology CART with a projector, a CPU, and a document camera along with a Promethean board (it's like a digital dry-erase board and is beyond cool).
With all the technological advances in education, there are times I can't figure something out and my students will show me how it's supposed to go. They are technology freaks! They know how to work it and where to find it. They are reading books in my class on their smart phones and e-readers. The hallways are littered with students who sneak ear buds into their ears and send text messages from bathroom stalls. They love technology. You want to punish a teenager? Take his cell phone; he's got one to take - I promise.
So how do you stump them? What piece of "technology" makes them look at you like, "What the doodle is this thing?" The answer - a telephone.
When a student needs to call home, I hand him my cordless phone. It never fails. He starts dialing the number, and nothing happens, so he tries it again, and still nothing. The third time he pushes the numbers slowly, deliberately, and with a little more force. Then he looks at me like he expects Ashton Kutcher to jump out and yell something about being punk'd. It's hilarious to watch, and probably one of the few times I get the one-up on these technology junkies. I'll then say something like, "It's a cordless phone, not a cell phone."
"I know!" they reply indignantly, and then continue to stare at the phone.
I do eventually reveal the big secret for working these crazy phones, but I can't say I am super quick about it. These are usually the kids who make me want to rip my hair out, so I admit there is a small amount of satisfaction that comes with watching their cocky sureness dissolve into a quizzical look found only on confused puppies. (I can almost see their ears flopping as their heads cock to the side.)
They are a generation that has become so technologically advanced that they cannot even work a cordless land line. It's kind of like I have a classroom full of Einsteins ... in that they cannot do basic things, not that they are super geniuses. Maybe next week I'll bring in a typewriter and ask them to type their final exam essays. Now that would be an interesting day, don't ya think?
"I typed the sentence and it didn't automatically capitalize the first letter!"
"Where is the spell check button? How am I supposed to know how to spell the words without it?"
"This thing isn't making paragraphs for me!"
"How do I make the title in the middle of the page?"
"Wait. I can't delete what I wrote and change it? It's there forever?! I have to be super careful when typing? Noooooooooooo!"
Yep ... an interesting day indeed.
Yup.
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