These days, technology is pushing the classroom to new heights. From teaching lessons, to facilitating games and videos, to the possibility of online learning, new technologies are positively impacting the classroom at every turn. It seems obvious that, as the world continues to become more technocentric, the classroom should evolve with it. But do we as educators fully understand the implications of this statement? It is an undeniable fact that technology is one of the most powerful and influential industries in our modern world. Here are some of the benefits and consequences of inviting tech corporations such as Google into the classroom.
The Pros
Google classroom primarily provides educators and students with a central location to facillitate assigning and receiving homework. Classrooms offers many more tools such as presentations, Google sheets, Calendars, Email, chat services, and Google Meet, a place where students can receive tutoring sessions. Google sets itself apart from competing platforms like Learning Management Systems (LMS) by allowing access to Google Classroom from many different devices, including Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android. Additionally, Parents can monitor and stay up to date with their child’s homework online with many of the resources used in the classroom. Students can also reap the benefits of using Classrooms by receive alerts and reminders to assignment due dates. Finally, teachers can keep track of attendance, class progress, assignments and grades easily with the online platform. Finally, the platform is free for use within the education system.
The Cons
Among the many risks of inviting Google into the classroom is data tracking, the process of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data of specific actions of a user. Google has the ability to collect data from a user even when they are engaging with peripheral apps such as Youtube. The platform also provides an environement where users risk being contacted by predators and experiencing cyber-bullying. Google Classrooms is becoming the industry standard educational platform as more and more schools are requiring its use. With that come the risks of a tech corporation having a great influence on the public education system. As Google is an ad-based company, its model has the ability to indoctrinate young users to become consumers of Google and their advertised products. The growing popularity of Classrooms also means that as teachers’ dependance on the platform grows, so do the consequences of a blackout or shutdown.