Reflection Module 5--Classroom Management

I would say in our district the majority of the Classroom atmosphere's are "Control by Authority." This is one challenge in Educational Technology that is a hard challenge. While there are many great "Screen Control" software programs out there for Laptops and iPads, it is usually something that the teacher needs to set up and maintain. This is one more added task with all the daunting challenges already added in by the DOE.

In our Technology Department, we often laugh that our job is to "Do more with Less." We are fortunate to have some free time to look into programs that can be incorporated for little or no cost, yet sometimes to get the full "bells and whistles" there is an associated cost. Who really is responsible to pay for that one costly subscription for one classroom?

Self-Control, I think that is one challenge that we will always have a challenge with our teens and technology. I don't know if it is so much a lack of self-control as a need for validation. With all the social media to choose from, our kids have now gone from the need to socialize with many people to collecting as many followers to feel "popular." Even my daughter is checking daily to see how many Pinterest followers she has gained in a day, and finds delight in having more followers than myself.

I think when we as a society can teach our kids that your worth is not through your social media followers, then we will see them be able to show a little more self-control through the use of technology. But parents must be the role models that teach our children the merits of what is out there to find to benefit and enrich your life, not give you value and worth.

I am not a huge social media fan, which puts me on the outer edge of technology sometimes. I find much merit in what I do follow out there, but I have to remember to model self-control to my children. This shows my children that time with family and friends and paying attention to that around me is much more valuable in the learning process than just staring at a computer screen. I try to follow a few content rich items rather than just everything possible out there.