Persuasive essay, our changing society
in the new age of information, ipads have replaced books, e-mails have taken the place of handwritten letters, and internet forums have become the new socratic seminar. who are the primary beneficiaries? they are today’s youth, who are ever absorbing the new inventions designed to hasten and add ease to everyday life. school districts are beginning to welcome the information systems to which the students are already accustomed (rostein). if harnessed correctly, this technology will be a useful teaching tool, allowing teachers to facilitate student discussions and learning in an easier, more relatable manner.
students are already familiar with the new processing systems and communication devices that are now being introduced in their schools. teachers desiring to relate to those students need merely accept the technology as an improvement to this day and age. tim wilson understands that when teachers and students can relate to one another, learning occurs (delaney). internet forums for discussion, blogs in which to write, and computer-based quizzes and tests for assessing student progress are all ways that teachers can lessen the gap between themselves and their students. as a result of teacher’s reaching out, students would be more engaged in their studies and more excited about learning new things. some argue, however, that this new technology promotes short attention spans and lack of appreciation for the historical arts (gelernter). without the correct guidance, this statement may hold true for some impressionable students, but if teachers recognize that technology, like anything else, must be monitored and used only in proper context, the danger disappears. with the proper balance of technology and traditional learning, students everywhere have the potential to become much more comfortable and capable learners.
still other critics of technology in schools argue that technology hinders creativity and imagination (dyson). without any organization, the abundance of information available could be overwhelming and therefore stifle creativity. however, if children are continually expected to think their own thoughts and create unique ideas while using the technological sources as a supplement to their learning, imagination will not be sacrificed. used in this way, technology could actually become a tool to encourage creativity and maximize student efficiency. for example, students who are required to read classic literature such as shakespeare could share their
interpretation of the text in a blog, which could be accessed by other students who would then share their point of view. in the end, the students would learn about the vital heart of literature in a context that they relate to and understand.
with the information age comes the potential for new and useful methods of teaching and learning. yet, in order to obtain the most benefits from the new possibilities, teachers must still be willing to teach and therefore act as a source of guidance, motivation, and organization for students. if teachers approach the new technology as a way to better relate to their students as well as a way to improve ease of learning, today’s new technology is bound to be an enormous to school systems.
in which paragraph does the writer address the counterargument?
does the writer support or reject the use of technology in the classroom?