How Technology has Affected Our Lives Technology has certainly changed the lives of many people in today’s world. According to several reviews, as well as several books written by Nicholas Carr tend to point us in the direction of the technology not being such a good thing. While there are many forms of technology that are used for many different things such as: digital TV, social networking, cellular phones, notebooks, laptops, personal computers and the list goes on are they taking us away from the realities of life? Many sources or authors have their versions of how the different technology has made improvements in our lives; as well as how they are making us think and do a lot less than we used to. The internet makes getting information on any subject so easy for us that sometimes we tend not to do the work, or research that is needed to fully understand what we are doing; instead we follow the instructions and if we need it again we go through the same process without ever learning how to complete the task. This is just the beginning of how technology changes our lives and perhaps we get things done, but are we really learning? This is the question that we hope to answer along the way. There are many ways in which technology has in fact changed lives; the first concern that will be addressed is the way in which technology mainly electronic media has caused changes to occur. When we think of electronic media for this purpose we will focus on television, computers, electronic toys and games, personal devices (such as smart phones and tablets). Consider all of the items listed and how they have increased the concern for health issues due to the inactive lifestyle that this type of technology promotes (Gonzalez-Mena). The major health issue is because these devices does not allow for those using them to be active; therefore it does not benefit the user in keeping physically fit. The television plays a role in the unhealthy affects that technology has by promoting unhealthy eating by snacking, and fast food in which they make it appear so enticing. There are also bad effects from television programs that promote violence and unprotected sex, this issue is also prevalent in the electronic games and toys that tend to portray violent acts and vulgar language. Although, research suggests that there can be a positive interaction with electronic devices such as television and games when they are used in the proper manner, with the proper programming it should still be limited in nature. Computers in the early care and educational programs are still considered to be an issue; as it has not been determined that computers in the preschool setting actually contribute to children’s learning, development, health or well being (Gonzalez-Mena). According to Alice Martin, there are four negative side effects that overusing technology will create in our children: * Elevated Exasperation occurs when children have indulged themselves into the games, and internet to a point that there is no longer a parent child relationship. When the parents want to talk, or has something else for the child to do it creates instant frustration, and in some cases rebellion (Martin). * Deteriorated Patience happens when the child’s tolerance disappear increasingly due to improper technology use. They become impatient when things are not done quickly (Martin). * Declining Writing Skills due to online chatting and shortcuts. Children relying more on digital communications rather than speaking or writing in proper English. * Lack of Physical Interaction because of the ways in which communication is done through technology; many people do not interact one on one with individuals. Most communication is done through technological devices; children do not know how to interact with each other and also have limited social skills.
Technology has played a tremendous role in teacher’s efficacy. Teacher’s efficacy is simply one’s personal belief in themselves and their ability to help children learn. The teacher’s ability is also associated with the choices of activities they choose, what they put into it and if they are persistent. There are not many studies that look at the use of technology such as videos to enhance the teachers efficacy as well as the students; however studies show that this type of technology have resulted in a favorable experience (Rosenfeld). There are different opinions as to if technology is good for children or bad; there are conflicting opinions and facts. The overall assumption seems to be that when used properly and in the correct manner it can be a good tool for children to learn. The video’s used for the study consisted of mathematical content, and also content that demonstrated knowledge of mathematical development; this included the teachers knowledge of what the children understood, and how they learned it. This in itself presents evidence that technology when used properly can and will be a great benefit to the children in the classroom. However the issue of technology is not just with the children in the classroom; it is more so with the children when they are at home or not in a structured setting with a teacher. Technology’s impact on families today is causing a break down in the core values which in times past held the family together (Rowan). The advancement of technology has been so vast that most families do not recognize all of the changes that have taken place within their families. The Kaiser Foundation released a study that showed elementary aged children spend an average of seven and a half hours per day playing games, while seventy five percent have televisions in their rooms, and fifty percent of Americans leave the televisions on all day (Rowan). Because children rely so heavily on technology for their entertainment they lack the creative activity and imagination they once relied upon. The lack of physical activity causes a delay in the child’s normal development, which results in a harmful impact on their basic foundation skills and learning ability. The children that enter school are so attached to high speed games and technology that they struggle with self control and the awareness skills needed for learning and they become behavior problems for the teacher’s in school. The children that are attached to the different types of technology have an increase in psychological disorders, behavior disorders, obesity, coordination disorders, developmental delays, speech, anxiety, and sleep disorders are just some of the issues associated with children and the overuse of technology. There are many different opinions related to the use of technology and children concerning whether it is good or bad; research suggests that there are good methods as well as bad methods of using technology. The overall consensus seems to be that if technology is used in a limited fashion as a teaching tool then it may be very useful in the classroom as a aid to teaching. The problems arise when there is no supervision over the use of technology, there are no time constraints on how long, and there is no guidance on what is appropriate and what is not. The children have and can learn many things when the programs being used are age appropriate, and they are allowed to use technology along with the own creative and intellectual ability. So technology is great and very useful when it is used appropriately; however it appears that many children are not using it appropriately so the problem continues to exist.

Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. The Shallows: What the Internet is doing to our brains. New York: W.W.Norton & Company Inc., 2010. Book.
Gonzalez-Mena, Janet. Strategies for Communicating and Working with Diverse Families. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2007. 133 - 136.
Martin, Alice. The 4 Negative Side Effects of Technology. 30 May 2013. Document. 8 April 2014.
Rosenfeld, Deborah. "Fostering Teacher Efficacy." 13 March 2014. Center for Children Technology. Article. 08 April 2014.
Rowan, Cris. The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child. 29 May 2013. Document. 8 April 2014.