Technology is an aspect of education that I have always found debatable. As a pupil at school, working on a computer in the classroom is something that I always felt was interesting and ‘something different’ to do. I found it a breath of fresh air that was an alternative and appealing way of revising and exploring certain academic subjects. However, after today’s lecture, I am now evaluating whether technology and the constant use of ICT is critical and/or essential in the classroom.
Although technology has become renowned for being a somewhat controversial topic, I have acknowledged that there are certainly some positive aspects of incorporating it into the classroom. It is a diverse and contemporary format that is undeniably progressing throughout society and has become a reliable source for many people across the world. The use of the internet has become, I have found, a consistent and highly informative research tool. As a University graduate, with no internet, I would have found my degree and research projects much more difficult to complete. Additionally, it has not just become a reliable source for adults, but for teenagers and younger children also. The luxury of being able to research a particular topic/subject is enhanced not just for pleasure but in schools as well as the workplace. Throughout the years, teachers have encouraged the internet as a revisionary source for pupils particularly those about to complete exams. Additionally, we were fortunate enough to be able to take part in a video Skype chat with a group of KS1 pupils in the lecture and engage with their thoughts on being able to use computers in the classroom. They unanimously agreed that they enjoyed being able to use technology at school because it was quick, different and easy to use.
In contrast, the negative aspects associated with the use of technology are becoming more profound. Although the internet has become a reliable source for many it can be deemed to be too reliable. How do we know that our sources are legitimate and appropriate? Furthermore, it can, at times, become a highly anti-social source of interaction. Children can lose interest very easily and it is important to keep them engaged and thinking actively in the classroom. Do using digital devices frequently diminish that spark of interaction? Likewise, contemporary products like Kindles and iPads have also become a more frequent source of material for people of all ages and can be seen as eliminating children of traditional learning methods like reading and writing.
I do believe technology to be an alternative source of learning when used appropriately. I think that it is highly beneficial as a learning and studying tool through its use of games and revision method. However, I also believe the concept that although children are growing in an environment where digital and technological devices are prominent, the methods of reading, writing, listening and speaking are too crucial to overlook entirely in the classroom.
Child Development 
I agree with your opinion that technology is a good alternative when teaching. Using new technology such as the interactive whiteboards can definitely aid a teacher in the delievery of lessons, it can be used to communicate more effectively to pupils with regards to their learning styles and like the children said, “it’s quicker”. I dont always believe that computers are a great alternative for learning as i cant clearly see the benefits of using them other than becoming more familiar with the systems. Of course this is important as we live in a technological world, but i think the purpose for using computers should be clearly identified and have specific learning outcomes. As you mentioned, we cannot eliminate traditional learning methods lke reading and writing. Teachers should know how much technology to use within the class room and when it should be used.
Although I agree that technology is a useful addition in the classroom, after just two days of my SBT1 I have seen how the use of computers in the classroom can be very time consuming, not necessarily for the right reasons. Two pupils in my SBT1 class use computers for writing in Literacy, due to their individual educational needs, while the other pupils in the class hand write. One pupil spent a long time opening the laptop and finding his work from last lesson. After a lot of time and effort spent typing his work he accidently did not save it and was very upset and frustrated at the end of the lesson. Although this is also a valuable lesson to learn and something that everyone has to learn the hard way, I felt that the time would have been better spent helping him to improve his handwriting skills. Technology is part of our daily lives so I agree that using it in the classroom is important, however it is should be used sparingly and not replace other key skills that pupils learn in school.