Technology in the classroom

Technology should definitely be allowed in the classroom. My opponent has somewhat defined this topic in that "classroom" here refers to secondary-level classrooms and I think it is safe to assume that my opponent means current and future classrooms (not classrooms in the past). As such, it is important for us to bear in mind that classrooms, like everything else in this world is fast evolving. That means that every day, more and more methods or ways of learning and gaining information are becoming ineffective, inefficient or redundant. It is just so much easier and more entertaining for the student when they are handed an iPad instead of a textbook. Often, textbooks are heavy and can only include so many pictures. A gadget on the other hand, is slim, light and has a capacity a thousand times more than a book. In subjects like Chemistry and Physics, it is extremely important to make the student better able to visualise the inner workings of substances, for example the anatomy of a molecule. If you have seen the software they use in classrooms now, students are able to touch the screen and rotate the molecule to improve their understanding of the subject. This is impossible to do if you only have a book with a few pictures. It is also important to remember that technology is not exclusive to having traditional books. You can have both. You can have textbooks and blackboards to accommodate to students who are more keen on traditional methods of learning. At the same time, technology acts as an invaluable supplement to that learning process. Heck, even Anki which is a software much used in classrooms, is a simple form of technology. Basically, Anki is a software which displays flashcards. It is often used for language learning or simply to memorise stuff like Geography or flags of different countries. Under my opponents' model, he would ban Anki simply because it runs on a computer. My opponent's main argument will undoubtedly be that all this technology is a distraction to the students. It will only be a distraction if teachers or parents fail to properly monitor it's usage in classrooms, just like anything else I think. We are already living in a world where this is not a new thing. Thousands of classrooms all around the world are using some form of gadget. Kids are already using smartphones when they are 10. What we should be doing is to tap into this amazing form of learning instead of being paranoid about it. Also, if you've seen Virtual Reality software, children and adults can "step into" various virtual environments like oceans, historical sites etc. This is what Facebook, YouTube and other big companies are going into right now. The potential for learning and knowledge is becoming more and more exciting, and children in schools, out of all people should be first group of people to experience these things. They are after all, at that age where they are still trying to gain ideas on career prospects and what's out there in the world. All-in-all, technology provides a more engaging and fun learning experience. To make learning fun alone is already a challenge. We should embrace changes while continuing to monitor it's use, not simply ban it altogether.