Growing Up With Technology by Gracen

Growing Up With Technology by Gracen - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

As someone who has witnessed technology become more and more intertwined in my classroom from kindergarten to my senior year, there are many positive qualities that have come out of this experience. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to grow academically as much as I have. This is because of the resources technology has been able to provide me and my classmates, allowing us to dive deeper into subjects, check our facts, and explore different perspectives on a wide range of topics.
With technology present in the classroom, it has increased our access to resources exponentially. With resources being so accessible, it makes it easier for students to learn and do extensive research. Because of this, it inspires kids to learn more about the subject at hand, because of the lack of hassle to do so. I can personally relate to this, as multiple times I have been given an assignment to do in class, and have researched beyond what was expected of me, just because it was so easy to do so. With resources so accessible, we are able to dive deeper into the subjects that we are studying, pushing us to explore beyond the questions given to us to answer in class. This positively impacts the learning environment within a classroom, having an overall effect on the learning experience of each and every student. Because technology is present in the classroom, it makes information accessible to everyone, no matter their circumstances, pushing us to become more engaged in the subjects being taught, and implementing a drive in each student to learn more.
Fact checking has become an integral part of our society today, with false information being produced, advertised, and spread daily. This can lead young, susceptible minds to believe in falsehoods, allowing for the creation amongst a student body of opinions and arguments based on untrue information. This can be very dangerous, especially in a school setting, but with technology present in a classroom, this issue can be avoided a lot easier. With the internet at our fingertips, we are able to check credible sources to see what information is true and false, which helps us to stray away from information not supported by facts. By being able to check our facts, it gets us in the habit at an early age to not just accept that everything we hear is true, but instead question the world around us, and search for the truth. By having technology in the classroom, fact checking has never been easier, creating healthy habits for the future.
With technology being present in the classroom, I am able to explore different perspectives from all around the world, which has helped me broaden my horizons, and make me consider views I never would have before. Because of technology, being able to see other viewpoints and put them into consideration before forming our own opinion has never before been easier, which is a great experience and lesson to learn before students are out in the real world. Being able to open our minds to these concepts creates more well-rounded students, who are able to empathize with others and the way they see the world.
I have personally been able to grow up alongside of technology, inside and out of the school, and have been able to witness the impact its presence has in a classroom. I am thankful for my personal experiences with technology in a school setting, because I believe it has made me not only a better student, but a better person as well. Since technology is so accessible, makes fact checking easier, and allows students to explore different perspectives outside of their own bubble, technology has definitely had a positive impact on my classroom experience, and so many others.