Modern technology presents us with great opportunities and dangerous distractions. The ability to project photographs and videos, give presentations, and access online educational applications can be of great benefit to students when utilized by a skilled teacher. In the lab, technology presents students with the opportunity to extend our senses and take measurements with great accuracy. Some students may greatly benefit from the use of assistive devices that help them in overcoming learning challenges.
At the same time, we recognize the great temptations and distractions that accompany modern technology. There can be an alienating depersonalization when modern technology is used as a substitute for real learning. With this in mind, we aim to be prudent in our proper usage of technology in the classroom. In general, we give a certain pride of place to the tried-and-true practices of taking notes, annotating by hand, and reading from paper copies of books.
