Technology in education: Friend or foe?

Parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago. Many say technology is the reason.

According to a Pew research study, two-thirds of parents report technology and social media use make parenting more difficult. They say navigating technology use is more of a challenge over violence, child discipline and bullying.

It's only natural to question if our increasing reliance on technology helps or hinders our children’s learning and family life. LifePlus Online Academy parent workshops address some of these important topics. This week, we explored how technology can be both a friend and a potential foe in our children's educational journey.

What technology can and cannot do.

Doctors use robots to perform heart surgery. What a gift technology can bring!

Technology in its basic sense is a tool to enhance creative activity. We are active and creative, so we create music and art. We create tools to help us finish work faster and to enhance our lives.

Technology today is what writer Andy Crouch calls, “easy everywhere.” We can use an app to chat with family, to pay my electric bill, to buy train tickets, to order food, and transfer money to a friend. All in just one app! Apps give superpowers and an abundance of resources. 

Neil Postman writes a great book about technology's influence in our lives. In Technopoly, he suggests how technology can be better understood through thinking about a shovel and a clock.

Like a shovel replacing bare hands for digging, technology tools present exciting opportunity. Over time we find unforeseen challenges. Ever get blisters on your hands from yard work? Tools present new risks to manage. Acknowledging and mitigating these risks is essential for responsible technology use. This idea is from Neil Postman in his book Technopoly.

Just as a village's perception of time changes with the introduction of a clock, technology alters how we perceive the world. It's key to recognize and manage this shift to ensure a balanced view of technology's role in our lives.

Modern technology, with its "easy everywhere" allure, grants us what Crouch says are "superpowers" in managing various aspects of our lives. It’s still crucial to remember true relationships and personal development cannot be replaced by convenient digital interfaces. 

Being human.

Being human means we are relational beings. We are meant to love and be loved by others. An Emory University study shows within just a few hours, a baby is looking for a face. A baby’s brain is organized to see faces and places. Sustained eye contact and human touch is critical to child development. We must not forget the value of these tangible, human experiences. Our formation happens in families in in our wider communities.

Technology tools can enhance our humanity, fostering connections, and aiding in the appreciation of the world around us. It cannot replace essential aspects of what it means to be human. It cannot train us to focus, and it certainly cannot mold individuals into who they are meant to be. That responsibility lies with us.

Practical strategies to use technology well as a family.

Crouch offers three key decisions to make as parents, especially when children are young:

1. What is your family goal?

2. How will you manage space?

3. How will you manage time?

Big family goals include how the family is developing wisdom and courage. Technology tools are not babysitters. They cannot develop your child’s character. How can you help your children learn from and serve the people around them? 

The way we manage space in our homes shows family priorities. When you walk into your home, what do you see? A TV? Puzzles or books? Games? The place you spend time with your family is the place where you are being creative and relational together. Manage space to reflect your priorities. Consider turning passive screen time into a social, family activity. Play a game together online. These activities are so much more engaging than passive screen time. If the TV is on at home and no one is watching, turn it off. Screens can be used as a way to bring the family together.

Consider how you arrange the space in your home and what it communicates about your values.

In our family, we make it a point to sit down together and eat dinner. We make it a point not to use our devices while eating dinner. One day on the weekend, we play or do something restful as a family. The point is to create intentional time as a family without devices, time together face-to-face. Managing time intentionally fosters wisdom and courage.

It’s important to be technology accountable to one another in a family. In our house, we use a tool that reports the internet access. As a family, we can check on one another to view which sites have been visited. Spouses should keep each other’s passwords for safety. Parents should be able to view children’s devices.

We try to follow Crouch's advice: "One hour a day, one day a week, one week a year, turn off our devices and feast, play, and rest together." 

Recommended reads.

Andy Crouch, in his books The Tech-wise Family and The Life We're Looking For, guides families in navigating the intricate relationship between technology and human connection.

Neil Postman's Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology offers a compelling argument for how we not only use technology but are also shaped by it.

As parents, the responsibility is ours to decide if technology is a friend or foe in our children's educational journey. The first 10 years are crucial for intentional technology use, but it's never too late to start navigating the digital landscape as a family. By fostering balance between technology and human connection, we can help our children thrive in the dynamic educational landscape of the 21st century.