Assignment: Turning on the Light

In the article, "Turning on the Lights" the author shows the importance of technology being implemented into a classroom setting. The author talks about how students used to be taught in school more then they do now. One of the main reasons students learn outside of school is because they are more "plugged" into the world with use of cell phones, television, and computers. No longer do students need teachers to relay information, they need to have information they have received from outside sources explained. After the article discusses the change in education with the use of technology, it talks about ways of implementing the technology in the classroom to prevent boredom. Overall, I felt the article was pretty strong. At one point in the article, a statistic was used, stating that 50-70 percent of students suffer from boredom in the classroom. The author linked that statistic to the lack of technology in the classroom. In reality, there could be several factors linked to that conclusion. Boredom is not a new trend. Although there were a few statements in the article I didn't fully agree with, overall I thought the article brought valid points for teachers to consider.
After reading the article, I observed a fifth grade classroom. I watched as students learn how to find the perimeter and area of a square. I noticed one of the students wasn't doing the work like the rest of the students. I asked him why he wasn't. He said, "I just don't get this, if I was on a computer I would be doing a lot better." After he said that, it reminded me of the section in article that articulated how students are wired differently due to the technology they are exposed to.