In 2018, I wrote the post below titled “Using Technology to Humanize” that someone recently reshared with me. This is long before the AI conversation was seemingly everywhere.
I wanted to revisit the post to see if it is still relevant today, and although I think it is, I will leave that up to you. I have updated it slightly below with the Grammarly treatment; otherwise, the sentiment remains the same. Just a few additional thoughts that I would like to share.
1. At the time of writing this, I just spent the last couple of days connecting with Allyson Apsey, whom I originally met in person years ago at a conference, but we have stayed closely connected for over a decade because of technology. We might have seen each other fewer than 10 times in person, but social media posts, texts, phone calls, and even writing a book together (What Makes A Great Principal) have made her one of my closest friends and someone beloved by my family. When people say that technology is not “real,” they are discrediting very real relationships. Allyson is just one of those stories, and I am so glad that we are still connected. Technology made it possible in a way that was not prevalent when I was a kid.
Remember going to summer camp as a kid, meeting new friends, and promising to stay in touch forever? Yeah, probably didn’t happen. We have the opportunity to stay more connected now, and that will only increase in the future.
2. I do understand how technology can tear people apart, especially with algorithms that feed into your current belief system, and paint those who disagree with you in certain aspects as “crazy” or “evil.”
In “Forward, Together,” I share stories about how I and others have posted regrettable things (at least on my part), because you tend to get caught up in seeing a person as an avatar rather than a human. I once heard someone say that it is hard to hate people up close, and as much as we feel there is division in the world, that perception is often felt on social media, not typically with your neighbor.
This seems counterintuitive to the context of this post, but I am advocating that, as a grown adult, I have lost sight of that “human side,” which is why kids need guidance on how they interact online. It is way easier to be a jerk online when you don’t have to face in-person consequences. Technology can build positive relationships (point 1), but it can also tear them down (current point). Guidance at a young age is necessary.
3. The screen time conversation is happening, and when I wrote the original post, I shared the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, which focused on quality over quantity for screens. The updated version uses similar language, and I want to give an example that might not win me any Father of the Year awards.
As a kid (and an adult), I loved playing video games. I never got into online playing, and some of my best bonding moments with my friends were playing Tecmo Bowl.
My kids, 3, 6, and 9, now play the Paw Patrol Racing game on PlayStation 5, and it is some of my favorite time with the kids, and they enjoy it as well. They are only allowed to play when I am with them, and it is hysterical. I never let them win, so when they do, it is quite the achievement. Learning how to lose is actually a lesson they learn through the process, and achieving a hard-earned victory is something they appreciate. Of course, there are other ways we do this as well, but this time with them in front of the screen is something that I will cherish, and I know they do too.
My dad was no “gamer” when I was a kid, and when he used to come down to the TV and play (terribly), it was something I always appreciated. You might see a video game, and I see incredible bonding time. I hope my kids look back on this time as fondly as I do.
I hope the post below provides some perspective, and the questions below can lead to some great discussions. They are slightly updated from the original post (thanks Grammarly!), but I have done my best to keep the sentiment the same as the original.
Using Technology To Humanize
I have been an advocate of technology in education for a long time. But I have been an advocate for “people” throughout my career.
People > Technology
The reason I bring this up is that I have seen a lot of pushback on the idea of “personalized learning” (this is a fascinating article on the topic by Anya Kamenetz) and on how it is leading our kids to focus on a screen. I will have to admit that I have seen this in schools, and it is disheartening. If we lose our connection with the people in our buildings, I want no part of technology.
As the world becomes more “digital,” it is crucial we become more “human.” This is imperative.
But technology can actually be used to build face-to-face relationships, not limit them. This quote from one of my favorite books, “Humanize,” is something that I hope we continue to hold on to in our perspective:
The discussion of “screen time” has been around for a while, but the belief system around it is changing as screens are everywhere. If you are reading this, you are most likely on a screen.
Knowing this, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has changed its guidelines for screen time.*
(Note…The article I originally pulled the quote from no longer exists, as this original post was written in 2018, but the suggestions are similar. Quality matters more than quantity. Here is an updated summary.)
Here are some of their suggestions:
“Screen time shouldn’t always be alone time. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens – it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your kids. It’s a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Watch a show with them; you will have the opportunity to introduce and share your own life experiences and perspectives, and guidance. Don’t just monitor children online, interact with them – you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.”
The shift here is that an hour of screen time alone is not as valuable as an hour in front of a screen where meaningful conversations and interactions can happen. Yes, the time in front of a screen is the same, but human interaction is an opportunity to delve deep into human connection and learning.
Other suggestions of note that focus on connecting on a personal level through the use of technology:
- Be a good role model. Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Because children are great mimics, limit your own media use. In fact, you’ll be more available for and connected with your children if you’re interacting, hugging and playing with them rather than simply staring at a screen.
- Know the value of face-to-face communication. Very young children learn best through two-way communication. Engaging in back-and-forth “talk time” is critical for language development. Conversations can be face-to-face or, if necessary, by video chat with a traveling parent or far-away grandparent. Research has shown that it’s that “back-and-forth conversation” that improves language skills—much more so than “passive” listening or one-way interaction with a screen.
When we look at how we are using technology, we have to ask:
- Is the way we are using technology building connections or severing them?
- Is the process of using technology fostering deep learning, critical thought, and creation, or promoting surface-level thinking?
- Are we modeling our learning, balance, and human connection through our use of technology so we can effectively guide our students?
Technology accelerates everything. Good practice and bad practice. Deep learning is crucial, but our human relationships are what will guarantee that schools remain relevant for much longer than we can imagine.
