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Technology as Device or Communication

Published July 29, 2007 Computer , Evaluation , communication , technology 1 Comment

I started my educational career by teaching Spanish. When I discovered computers (TRS-80), I realized that they could help with communication. I have always seen technology as a communication tool. It helps me to communicate better to my students, it empowers them to develop high-level thinking activities, and it permits me to let students know how they are doing academically.

I see technology not as a strange device that gets in my way but as an extension of how I am as an educator. I view each new technology through this lens: How it help me to better communicate? It helps me to judge the potential of a new technology for the classroom. For example, if my school prohibits cellphones in the classroom or my students cannot afford text messaging, then using a cellphone as a communication tool does not make sense to me. A videoconferencing tool like Skype that enables two people to talk to each other from any distance is a great communication tool.

How do you communication with technology? What lens do you use to evaluate new technology?

© Harry Grover Tuttle, 2007

1 Response to “Technology as Device or Communication”

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  1. 1 TeacherJay July 31, 2007 at 8:08 pm

    I agree that technology has enabled much communication and that has the potential to have a great effect on education. As educators, we often forget that our primary job should be to help our students communicate in all ways, whether it be with us, with each other, or with the material. Technology, such as presentations, websites, or simulations all share the core of communicating an idea to the user.

    In evaluating a new technology, I always give a personal test – I try it out myself and consider if it is something that I would want to use if I were in the role of the student; I also consider if it is something that I can do just as well without the technology. If I can, then I am probably not going to purchase it, because I will see no need to train my students on its use and to spend the money for it.

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