When We're Left to Our Own Devices

Two and a half years ago, I'd never heard the term Web 2.0 (since outdated) and I thought that regular, consistent access to laptops would make my students better at what they do. Well, two years at a 1:1 laptop school with 7E, 7/8A, 7/8B, 8A, 8B, 7B has taught me that students are NOT inherently good with technology, that when left to their own devices, most students will watch useless YouTube videos or use Google Chat when it is not disabled. Students will watch meaningful YouTube videos on their own, but they won't know it, and when directed to watch meaningful YouTube videos on their own, they will mostly just be inspired by the Harlem Shake.

Students with computers at their fingertips need to know what information is valuable, what information is useless, and where the rest of that information falls on the spectrum between valuable and useless.

This is too much for me, too much for all of us alone. It's something we have to do together.

If I could choose again and do-over my college major (English, Education, a minor in journalism), my subsequent experience (MFA program, teaching), and my career choice as dictated by my financial situation at the time I made my initial decision (early 20's, eating hot dogs for lunch and dinner every day of the week but Friday), I'd still teach the same grade level (7, mostly 8) and the same subject if I knew what I know now about myself. Which is nothing, which is a lot more than I thought I knew when I was 12 or 13 like my students (everything).