My+Opinion

Technology is taking over the world, and it has been for quite some time. If you think about it, technology itself is nothing new. From the very first radios and television sets, technology keeps expanding and we just have to keep up to it.
 * What do I think? **

The concept of digital natives, however, is a little different. Get ready to walk into a classroom where ipods and cellphones are as standard as a pencil. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more cellphones in class than pencils! Welcome to a world where in any given classroom students may be communicating with more people outside of the class than in the class. And where a cut and paste project will no longer involve a glue stick. These are your students; and probably the only thing harder than keeping up with technology will be keeping up with them.

The way I see it, new technologies are constantly moving from illusions to realities. As fast as people can dream something up, they can turn it into something real. The problem that we all face is that quite often, technology moves faster than we do. Who knows, in thirty years time, there may be a whole new set of digital natives that the rest of the world struggles to keep up with.

There are two sides to everything. Is technology good? Of course! There is no limit to what students can learn these days. No limit to what they can create using technology. Does technology have its downside? Absolutely! Students are moving so fast that we must question if they are actually taking in information or just temporarily being exposed to it. We also must constantly monitor safety in the digital world. Students can create till their heart's content, but what is tangible anymore? With everything becoming available on-line, will something like paper mache one day become a thing of the past?

We also cannot just consider the students, what about us? What about the teacher? What about the parents trying to help their children with homework? Will we soon become too overwhelmed trying to keep up with the digital classroom? Will we still have the energy to design creative lesson plans?

I think the most we can do is be aware that our classrooms are quickly changing and that we have to evolve for our students. Teachers need to consider both sides of technology in their classrooms. Technology opens doors to creativity, but we need to remember that wonderful things were created before the world of digital natives as well.

**For your listening pleasure: ** Joni Mitchell, in my opinion, is one of the most poetically creative musicians to ever come out of Canada.... Long before the time of Digital Natives. Watch the video, pay attention to the lyrics, and think about how the words might relate to your thoughts on technology in the classroom. media type="youtube" key="bcrEqIpi6sg" height="344" width="425" Video: (http://www.youtube.com, 2007)

**Lyrics to Both Sides Now** : (Joni Mitchell) Rows and flows of angel hair And ice cream castles in the air And feather canyons everywhere I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun They rain and snow on everyone So many things I would have done But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now From up and down, and still somehow It's cloud illusions I recall I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels The dizzy dancing way you feel As ev'ry fairy tale comes real I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show You leave 'em laughing when you go And if you care, don't let them know Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now From give and take, and still somehow It's love's illusions I recall I really don't know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud To say "I love you" right out loud Dreams and schemes and circus crowds I've looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange They shake their heads, they say I've changed Well something's lost, but something's gained In living ev'ry day

I've looked at life from both sides now From win and lose and still somehow It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all

I've looked at life from both sides now From up and down, and still somehow It's life's illusions I recall I really don't know life at all

(Both Sides Now Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/, 2010)