Interview #2 in a series of 2- What are the positive aspects of technology use in classroom and beyond?

              Once again I was amazed at the eloquent articulation of sixth graders, as well as their grasp on life in the digital age in their classroom and beyond. For this second interview,  I asked students to reflect upon the positive side of life in the digital age. Appearing to be slightly less animated than when I had asked them about the negative side of technology, they took the question seriously and jotted down a few notes about their feelings. A few interesting things came up during  discussion moments later, and the discussion took a surprising turn. Students were considering all types of technology not just their laptops, but phones, iPods, all video media, electronic devices and even cars. This was not my intended prompt for them, but this was their assumption about technology in general; that it should have broad inclusion of all things mentioned.  They all agreed that technology can make things more convenient especially in researching for schoolwork. It keeps you organized, contacted and updated was one mature  response. It's helpful for receiving quick information such as an environmental hazard, or a storm. One student remarked that he appreciated being able to write on a keyboard since he has poor penmanship. They included that it is easier to communicate with technology and to keep up with cultural awareness, online translators can be helpful with this, they thought. "It's entertaining."
            Even as the task at hand was to analyze the positive aspects of technology in their lives, students couldn't seem to resist talking about its negative aspects, much to my dismay as I tried to steer them back to the main interrogation. "More technology is not necessarily better," added one student, "because it does affect the environment, such as car emissions. Some people call it progress, but it's really a downfall because because of the bad effects it has." "It's good  to have a break and be disconnected for a while. People get angry when technology doesn't work. Then you realize that it's causing you stress, maybe you should get away from it," was another response.
           I don't think it's necessary to elaborate on the fact that these students verbal, written and analytical skills have clearly been increased due to their increased exposure to text. Maybe I should have them read  Hamlet's Blackberry, by William Powers? Based on their observations, I'm sure they would like it!