Located within our world is the immensely growing world of technology that our greatest minds are creating. Technology has drastically changed today’s society in countless ways right in front of our eyes. History has shown the transformation of our growing country formed by the numerous and incredible technological advances along with advances in many other fields. Dating all the way back to Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb and as recent as Steve Jobs and his creation of Apple Computers, technology has been there to help ease and improve our everyday lives. However, not every aspect of technology is for the better. In regards to the field of education and the growing minds of today’s youth, a few issues arise when discussing this generation’s technology. Although some of these problems may be bigger than others, they are all becoming more and more present today and need to be resolved. While some people might say otherwise, the increasing use of technology in today’s classrooms can negatively impact the communication skills and attention spans of students, along with the potential to cause noticeable effects in a child’s brain development and their ability to empathize. 

In the eyes of some people the usage of classroom technology is almost the opposite of harmful. In many ways these individuals have a valid argument because there is always positive side to technological advances. A few of the supporters of technology believe that it offers up convenience, an abundant amount of resources and information, and a great way to stay in touch with the people you know as well as the rest of the world. For example, in an article written by Janelle Cox, she states, “technology occupies an important place within students’ lives. When they are not in school, just about everything that they do is connected in some way to technology”. Cox demonstrates how large of a portion our lives revolve around technology and how comfortable we have grown with it. However, becoming too comfortable with something may not always be the best way. A number of these benefits seem to also come along with a few potential down sides. Such as, the increased convenience, which technology and the internet bring could very well cause laziness in students, resulting in a stronger urge to procrastinate on assignments. For example, as a freshman in high school I was given an iPad by my school district. Yes, it made it easier to turn in assignments and research necessary information but it was a constant distraction during class and when trying to do some assignments. After hardly paying attention through a class it is easy to fall behind and trying to catch back up is not the right way learn something. A combination of procrastination and falling behind in class could be deadly to a person’s grades. Making it clear why most electronics are not the right fit for the classroom.

In addition to the possible effects technology’s convenience might bring, a number serious problems are becoming the result of overusing technology within the classroom and ultimately, as a whole. Furthermore, the minds of students and children of today are being altered by too much technology use. The ways children think and feel are being effected by technology. In an article I found, the author, Pamela DeLoatch, states, “the use of technology can alter the actual wiring of the brain” (DeLoatch). She goes further on to say that nearly sixty-seven percent of toddlers under the age of two are using mobile media and nearly all of teenagers are spending time online. All the time children are spending online is changing how their brains work. For instance, using Google or other search engines can help a student become better at finding research but might not be able to pertain it as well. With technology being such a present aspect in today’s generation, the emotions and feelings of students are not safe from being effected. Studies have shown that computer and internet use are negatively effecting the emotions of growing children. One example DeLoatch uses in her article is, “A report from the United Kingdom revealed that kids who use computer games and their home Internet for more than four hours do not have the same sense of wellbeing as those who used that technology for less than an hour”. The wellbeing of our students is very important in insuring a good future for them. The more and more internet and technology we use the less physical interactions we have between each other. That alone can give young kids difficulty when developing social skills and emotional reactions.

Along with the effect it can have on emotions, unmonitored and increased internet use is also causing conflict in the development of a child’s brain. Through the earlier years an individual’s brain is more easily shaped by the world around them more than older people would. Just as a young dog might learn a new trick quicker than an older dog. For example, in an article I found, it states, “child development experts consider it crucial to give children at this age a broad base— emotionally, intellectually, and in the five senses—before introducing something as technical and one-dimensional as a computer” (Herman 41). Due to the growing stages of an elementary or middle school student’s brain, it is essential to let it grow and expand before the everyday encounter with computers and other forms of technology. 

While technology brings a number of different negative effects to students lives, one of the most serious is its effect on communication and people skills. The backbone of this country, society, and world all revolves around how we as people communicate with each other. A lack of communication skills is an easy way for a misunderstanding to occur. In the world of education, it is essential for students to practice good communication. For example, while working in groups, if students are unable to effectively communicate it would be very easy to do poorly on assignments.  

Once students are given a chance to mature a let their brain grow without interference, then they should have free reign to use technology how they please. Until then, however, it is essential to come up with ways to reduce and utilize technology in the most effective way possible. Also in her article, Jana Herman gives a good list of ways teachers and parents can improve how young students are using technology at home and in class. For example, a few actions she suggests include: limiting technology, spending quality time with other people, getting several hours of exercise a day, and restricting internet use on smart phones. She also writes, “When children play, they do better academically, socially, and, not unsurprisingly, physically. We want to support children in becoming well-rounded people, who experience and appreciate all facets of the natural world” (Herman 40). It is essential for our children to become the best possible versions of themselves, in order to better our society and our youth as a whole. 

In conclusion, while it does offer some benefits, it is easy to see that technology is not the right fit for our classrooms. It has been proven to cause potential effects to a child’s brain development and their ability to empathize, along with having a negative effect on the communication skills and attention spans of our young students. Which is explicitly why this problem needs to be resolved. Using the practices I just discussed, along with many others the technology problem this generation of students is facing can easily be resolved. 
