Integrating Technology in Education

Social media plays a key role in any teenager's life and there is no denying that. It is a whole new world that they create and feel accepted when the world outside their phone may be different, scary, and unknown.     Imagine this image for a second. A teenage girl posts a selfie of herself in a brand-new homecoming dress on social media. Instantly, she gets "likes," followers, and comments. She begins to feel that excitement and acceptance for everyone that sees her post.    Image Source: Musebridals.com   Can she get the same reactions from others in person? Is she someone who feels left out or socially awkward?    Teenagers and social media are a touchy subject, and this is clear when one does a simple Google search. As a parent and a teacher, what can I do to understand this hard subject? Let us examine three articles that focus on this hard topic and my thoughts on the articles.   Article #1 -  What is "Finsta" Teens and their Secre...

It seems like everyone in the world, carries a phone in hand either at home, school, or in a work environment as technology advances each day. The question is though, how much is it being used and is it benefiting one’s mental health? According to Common Sense Media, in the 2023 Constant Companion Report , students use about 126 minutes (about 2 hours) of their school day on social media.   Image Source : Commonsensemedia.org I found the graph above interesting, and it made me wonder what kind of policies schools have in place with the use of cell phones during the school day. I know in the school district I work at, the current policy for students is phones are not used during school hours and put away in a backpack. At the high school where my children attend, they are a little more flexible with use depending on the class . Some teachers let students quietly listen to music while working on assignments or use their phone to participate in an activity. These uses of the pho...