Technology change in GHS
Has digital work been beneficial or not?
Students in Journalism/Multimedia class use computers every day to write and publish articles (Credit: Felicia Pena)
The change to online portfolios was to allow an easier experience for students at GHS. Our files are more accessible, making the preparation of the much-anticipated senior presentation a smoother process. The use of Google Docs and Canvas allows us to work on assignments in more than one place and turn them in easier.
With technology, however, there is always the big problem: files can be erased if the right precautions aren’t taken, causing major damage to students’ portfolios and success. Many students, myself included, have already suffered because of the recent wipeout of all H-drives from the school computers. A warning would have been fair, with many Seniors scrambling to find relevant evidence for their exit interviews.
This situation has us wondering: Are our files permanently gone? If not, where did they go? How can I make up for them if they really are missing? According to GHS staff the files still exist yet are not accessible by us students unless we ask an administrator about it. What we need is the time to retrieve these files. What we can do for now is save them in more than one place as well as keep a physical copy of most files, just in case.
There are many other cases against using technology in school: it’s easier to copy+paste work, we get distracted by exploring the internet instead of doing work, and there’s not as much interaction with one another when we sit in front of a screen
Even so, studies done by the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) proved that technology helps students to be more engaged in learning. It is even more helpful to students who are more at risk of failing classes or dropping out. The use of technology also encourages students to learn because of their interest in using it in the first place.
I spoke with a few seniors to get their opinion on having classwork on computers and they all agreed that it is much easier to get work done. We are also able to use it anywhere there is internet, not just in the classroom. However, one student pointed out that computers aren’t available in their GEMS class, which has mostly online work.
The transition from physical to digital, they say, has been very beneficial to their graduation requirements, especially the Senior Exit Interviews. You can make the presentation more personal by adding a lot more pictures than you could if it were physical, one student said. On the other hand, it may be hard to include evidence of work such as art, which is better to view in person.
As for the transition itself, it was slow and difficult at first. One senior said that it would’ve been easier if everything were digital in the first place. Once everything is transferred, however, they say it is a lot more efficient. They also believe that using a digital portfolio like this will definitely help in future interviews, especially because technology is becoming more common these days. They also know that some college classes they plan on taking will be using solely computers.
That being said, as long as there are computers for everyone and most work like GEMS assignments and presentations are done online, the change to technology will benefit students who are going down the path of success.
