Controversial Teaching Method

Let me start by saying that I began teaching in 2004, pre-I-phone era. A few of my students had I-pods for music, but did not even think of using them in school. At that time, to give an assignment using technology was a joy and a bit of a hassle as we had to book a computer lab in advance. I even used an overhead projector in my classroom at that time. In contrast, currently every student has their own computer, a phone, and cordless earbuds. While I enjoyed the students making projects with technology and having the spell check tool help them create easy to read essays, the students found out how much easier projects could become by copying and pasting everything. Over time, this behavior has caused a problem. Students barely read anything online; they just copy and paste their answers onto a slideshow or into an essay. Even more still, they have discovered Chat GPT, which can write answers for them. All of these tech tools have literally made this next young group of students more 'dumb.'

It's true. The recent study on IQ scores made headlines. I've attached a link to one news article about it.

This leads me to believe that our reliance on tech tools is making us less smart. Even adults have become victims of its effect on memory. When was the last time you memorized someone's phone number or address? We just use our phone for that purpose. Now some may say that it frees up more space in our lives for other things, but what if those tech devices are removed from our lives? Does our brain power change?

I've worked in 7 different schools and never saw much improvement in the students ability to learn, reason, discuss facts and opinions or complex ideas, save one. In that particular school, we had a dedicated principal who was a great English/Lit teacher prior to becoming an administrator, and she was dedicated to writing across all curriculum programs. I learned that reading, writing and discussion were the best three ways to exponentially increase learning in my classrooms. This principal also had the best professional development meetings I ever attended. They were similar to my best college courses in the level of engagement and participation among the faculty.

I think it is time to go back to tried and true methods and give reading, writing and discussion methods more attention. I want to challenge teachers to go a month without the students using computers or their phone on assignments. Make May a month of mental challenge for your students. You could make it a month of reviewing concepts previously taught, but without the technology the student's previously used. As the teacher, you can still use some technology yourself, but force the students to change their methods and you will create new pathways in their brains that will benefit them in greater ways than they will admit. Of course, you can use data to prove it to yourself and the students with some pre and post testing.

If you aren't teaching students in a classroom, but have children at home, do the same thing. Put away your phones at dinner and read together, look through picture albums, or create something together at home. Test your memory of events, phone numbers and addresses of loved ones in case something happens and you need it. Use your brain in different ways to generate more brain power as a family as well as in the classroom.