A number of years ago Microsoft ran a commercial for the Windows Phone 7. It portrayed a variety of people immersed in their smartphones while oblivious to their surroundings. The series of vignettes includes a distracted father sitting on a seesaw leaving his daughter stranded high on the other end, a hapless man absorbed in […]
When a school community chooses to invest in and employ digital technologies, the impact of the choice extends beyond the school walls and the hours of the school day. In fact, proponents of digital technologies highlight the benefit of expanded learning time and space, moving learning beyond the confines of the classroom. What are some […]
Talking about technology in schools seems to come with a built-in temptation toward arguing about big threats and promises. Digital devices will connect our students to the world, transform learning, break down the walls of the school, and unleash student creativity! Digital devices will isolate our students, make them shallow, weaken their thinking skills, and […]
Twenty-first-century digital devices are packaged with the promise of revolutionizing student learning through access to more knowledge, increased organization, wider connectivity to the world, and more. With such powerful tools at the fingertips of students, what role is left for teachers? One high schooler we interviewed said that students have “an all-knowing box of genius […]
One of the most noticeable recent technological changes in our homes and schools is the proliferation of screens. Televisions have given way to computers, tablets, and phones, all of which serve significant functions in our lives. The abundance of these devices has caused widespread concern, particularly about youth, who seem as entranced by screens as […]
Last fall I sat at the back of a classroom, one of many visited to monitor student interns, and watched a teacher engage in a curious technological two-step while teaching her class. She would engage students for a few minutes, then give them something to discuss or write down, at which point her attention shifted […]
For our contribution to the annual book issue, three members of the P@nel.Edu team (Christian Altena, Gayle Monsma, and John Walcott) decided to read The Innovator’s Mindset by George Couros and dialogue about the book and its value for Christian educators. Christian, Gayle, and John gathered via video conference to discuss the book. John: Let’s […]
Katie (not her real name), a high school junior, walked briskly toward her first hour class, making sure to get in the room before the bell rang. As she approached the door, I waved a greeting and said, “Good morning, Katie!” No response. Katie, normally wide awake and talking with friends, walked silently, her head […]
I will admit that I initially did not intend to read the book Shaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture, and Computer Technology. From my various roles at my school, I thought had a solid grasp on this topic—how our technology shapes us and our faith, and how we, in turn, shape technology. However, I […]
“You are not a gadget “is the manifesto of Jaron Lanier, written last year in response to the way that the Internet is changing our lives. Lanier’s own background is in virtual reality, and he is sometimes referred to as its “father.” In his dedication, he thanks his colleagues in the digital revolution for “considering […]