21st Century Learning

Technology seems to play a big part in our learning today, but what is the right technology? I have recently read “Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1’’ and “Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 2(but is it a Literary Machine?)” both written by David Warlick. In his two blogs he ponders at the use of the iPad for learning purposes. In one school they are handing out iPads to every 8th grade student which seems unnecessary to Warlick. He has the opinion that “21st century learning has nothing to do with iPads, iPod Touches, or any piece of technology.” Learning is about the experience and the advancement to prepare students for the next years of their life. In “Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 2” Warlick focuses more on the fact that the iPad is useful but it is not a literacy machine. He believes that the iPad is a “great device to watch” and that it is a great product for many uses, but not for learning. “… I see little indication that education was one of the aims in its [iPad] design. They didn’t build a literacy tool…” is a statement that best explains how Warlick feels.


My learning greatly depends on technology when I type papers or blog for class; not every piece of technology can perform these tasks though. The iPad does not seem like an adequate tool to use when typing papers or typing anything for that matter. You have to use your thumbs if you are holding it in your hands or try to type with it laying flat on a table (difficult). Not only do iPads seem to be a questionable educational tool, but so do many other technologies. How much technology should be used in classes? Where is the line? I am brought back to what Warlick said, “21st century learning has nothing to do with…any piece of technology.” High tech gadgets may be over pushed in that it is emphasized too much in some classes. Technology is good, sometimes great, but it does not need to be used for everything. Hand writing is still a first-class tool to have in your arsenal, along with basic math skills and researching skills. We are not going to have computers everywhere to type; kids need to know how to write. We do not carry around calculators everywhere we go; kids need to have math skills. Now, of course kids are still being taught how to write and add, and always use the mechanics in class; but what if? What if some day we depend on technology so much that later generations don’t know how to write, only type? It reminds me of I book I read call Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. In the futuristic novel only a few select characters knew how to hand write. When a secret note had to be written it was a good thing the character treasured the past and learned how to write by hand. Technology is good for many things and should not be excluded in a class room, but the classic learning styles are also fantastic.

Am I taking this too far? Can class room obsession with technology lead to basic problems in learning in the future? Maybe? Maybe not?