I recently read a posting on Jeremy Gypton’s Thoughts on Teaching & Educational Technology blog called Do Computers Increase Student Achievement?  Jeremy raised some excellent points and really got me thinking about the big picture.

As educators, we must always ask ourselves if our classroom activities are challenging, enriching and engaging.  In other words, are we basing our activities on strong pedagogy?  I have to be careful as a technology teacher that I don’t allow the technology to drive instruction. Technology is just a tool — a tool that can be used well and a tool that can be used poorly.  How the tool is used is up to the teacher.  It’s tempting to get swept into the excitement of all the latest gadgets and internet technologies.  They certainly have a wow factor.  But they are only useful if creative teachers use them in ways that promote higher-order thinking, problem-solving skills and critical literacy.  One should never plan a lesson around a particular technology.  Instead, one should begin with an instructional outcome and then locate the appropriate technologies to support it.  If the appropriate technology is a pen and paper, then go with it.

I don’t believe computers increase student achievement.  I believe good teachers use computers effectively to increase student achievement.  There’s a big difference between these two statements.  It’s all about the pedagogy, not the computers.  Good teaching and learning must always be the driving force.  Computers and technology are only as effective as the teacher who uses them.