Real-ity

The bell rings, I’m headed to second hour. It’s junior year and I’m walking to class when my friend stops and says, “We aren’t doin anything today.” “What do you mean?” I ask him. “Internet’s down.” he explains.

The first of many occurrences that year, which put my AP English teacher in a tizzy as she relied on Google Classroom as if it were oxygen. As I headed to Gifted US History later in the day, we got an entirely different experience. Papers flying left and right, like cards in a Vegas casino and chalk in the air as if Lebron James had just started the first game of the NBA Finals. The effect on me, a student was unique as I happened to love technology, the internet and almost anything that used electricity. Of course the nerds of Mrs. Dugas’ class shamed her for “not knowing how to read on paper” and only taking in essays if they were done on Google Docs. I remember the days when our teachers wouldn’t take an essay in pen, now it seems like as long as it’s written on a screen, we’re safe. 

The past decade has been the greatest change on human interaction that we’ve ever seen. This has extended to our classrooms as well. I can remember just ten years ago when the only two computers were on the side of the classroom that were used for reading comprehension tests and occasionally to use an online encyclopedia. Every desk had a paper dictionary and thesaurus for any time we needed to “look up something.” Something must make us wonder if this technology is actually better. Do the internet down days, the porn popups, oh and that kid in the corner searching for an unblocked games site actually make up for the benefits that technology has in the classroom. This must have an effect on our zombie kids that are growing up with their digital crutches who are replacing handwriting class with “Collaborating using Google Slides 101.” The digital classroom will never be able to replace physical objects like art supplies or a good smelly book. Looking into the next ten years only makes me fearful for my future children. Will I have to teach my child how to spell words without autocorrect? Will my kids even have a teacher or just an AI teacher that doesn’t have a soul? Replacing our schools for digital like in Massively Open is obviously scary to think about, but maybe its our best bet. The idea of disconnecting our students from the classroom, their teachers and peers as Cecire suggests, while disheartening, inspires some peace as my child can sit in my arms as he takes his algebra test in comfort. He would also be taught by his father, the essence of being a human and what reality actually is; real, not virtual or augmented.