Digital Learning

     My name is Nathan Ivey and I am a third year English major at the University of South Carolina.  For my EDPY 401 class, I have discovered a video which details the positives of digital learning in contemporary education.  The video highlights the positive aspects of technology and its ability to make education a less time-consuming pursuit.  The video highlights present technological advances in the classroom and even foreshadows the role of technology in years to come.  For the most part, I agree with the video in that technology allows students to acquire much more knowledge in a shorter period of time.  There is almost an endless database of information on the world wide web and its access is simple and convenient. 

     My only problem is that the video almost uses technology as a substitute for traditional learning.  Technology has its weak points as well, which the video does not emphasize as much.  Jean Piaget stresses that children are active and motivated learners and that their environment is vital to their education.  They should have a much more personal feel for learning with interaction from their peers and especially from their instructors.  Not to say that technology turns learning into a process of rote rehearsal, but that the basics of teaching must remain strong in order for kids, and adolescents, to maintain that personal connection which is a key element in education.  For instance, a crucial aspect to linguistic development is personal conversation.  Although technology might assist in this task, personal contact is key.  I have located a second video which emphasizes the counter argument to technological education.

                                                                                                                    Technology and Education