Introduction and Media Technology in Teaching

 Hey everyone, my name is Natalie, and I’m currently a student in the English Subject Matter (ESM) Program at Cal State University, Northridge (CSUN), and an aspiring teacher. I grew up as a bookworm, reading so many novels. However, my love for literature and writing did not take off until high school. I had the privilege of having such wonderful English teachers in high school, who helped nurture my love for reading and writing and piqued my interest in teaching. If it weren’t for their teaching and its impact on me, I would not have been inspired to become a teacher myself. Beyond studying, working, and career aspirations, I am a very active person and always doing something. When I have free time, I’m either rock climbing, hiking, trail running, or even simply hitting the gym. I’m going to be running my first half-marathon this Saturday, and I’m excited. 

As I work toward my career goal of teaching, it is evident that the use of media technology in schools and in teaching at all levels has increased. Media technology in teaching is a double-edged sword. It can make classwork much easier, or it can become a distraction. Media technology should just be used as a tool to either get work done or enhance learning. They’re great tools for assignments and research. The research component is where media technology plays a major role for diverse learners, as it allows for further explanation and engagement with topics and concepts, such as reading and viewing articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and more. However, where media technology becomes a problem is when it is readily accessible to students. For school levels below college, allowing laptops (without restrictions), cell phones, or even tablets out can become a major distraction and a hindrance to their learning. They will, without a doubt, begin to use these tools to doomscroll on social media and do things they should not be doing when they should be paying attention in class. 

When I was in high school, each student was granted a Google Chromebook for school use only, with strict restrictions. We were also never allowed to have our cell phones out. If we were caught with our phones, we were sent to detention. On the Chromebooks, we were not allowed to search up any social media or other inappropriate websites. When we did in-class assignments, our teachers would use GoGuardian, a tool that allowed them to see what we were doing on our Chromebooks and whether we were viewing anything other than the assignment, or to ensure we weren’t cheating on tests or major assignments. This seemed to work effectively in using media technology as a powerful tool to enhance learning, while ensuring it did not become a distraction. It is a fine line. 

The distraction issue can also be the same for college level too, but by that time, you’re an adult, you’ll pay (literally) for the consequences. Lastly, with the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), things are getting even messier. AI should never be used in place of human work, on either side, as a student or a teacher. That is all I will say about that.