With the advent of cell phones, the Internet, MP3 players, DVDs, and more, what should be used in the classroom and what should be left at the schoolhouse door? That is a question many school administrators, teachers, and parents are pondering these days. Like many other complex conundrums, there is no easy answer. There are clear advantages and clear disadvantages of using new media in the classroom.
If you are a parent, it is up to you to voice your opinion as to how much new media should be used in your child’s classroom. The prevalence of both benefits and disadvantages warrant finding the right balance of media in the context of learning.
This video discusses the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom
Learning Advantages of New Media
Less than 30 years ago, fewer than half the households in the United States owned a personal computer, and the Internet was still primarily used as a way for scientists to share information with one another.
Today, the “new media” of learning has leaped off the pages of books and onto the web pages online. For example, volumes of encyclopedias are becoming more obsolete, as this knowledge is easily accessible through the internet and CD-ROMs. Elementary school children are learning how to use new media more fluently than their parents, with applications ranging from PowerPoint to Excel. Subsequently, with the potential