The Effects of Technology on Society and Education

Interview #1
Terry Shirley (Geography teacher here at UNCC)
1. Are you for or against incorporating technology into classrooms? Why or why
not?
- For technology, it depends on what technology it is as long as it is
regulated and used well in a classroom
2. What role has technology played in regards to the structure of your teaching?
- Depending on what class, computer and power points are used frequently.
In his meteorology class they use radars, computer models, and the
weather station that is on the roof of McEnry building.
3. Has technology been effective in your teachings?
- It helps bridge the gap between what you learned in class and a real life
example of the material. Another perspective on certain things, being able
to show them exactly what youre explaining.
4. Have you seen positive or negative effects on grades due to technology?
- Its definitely positive when youre able to show the students what exactly
youre talking about but can have a negative effect of being a distraction
when using too much technology.
5. Do you feel as if technology has taken over our society and the way we live
our lives?
- The society today, technology has taken over the way we communicate
with each other even as a teacher, everything we do is online. My
grandmothers generation on the other hand didnt have cellphones or
other ways to communicate so their society wasnt really affected by
technology.
6. If you were to change one thing about school systems and how they
incorporate technology, what would it be?
- If classrooms had a tool similar to the iPad and Clicker which allowed
students to answer questions given from the teacher, proving they know
the answer to the question. The tool would only allow them to access class
notes or problems so that students dont get distracted.

Interview #2
Connie Douglas (English teacher here at UNCC)
Question #1 Thirty-two years ago, there were NO computers in classrooms much less a computer
classroom. All assignments were graded by hand and there was very little access to pre- prepared tests
and worksheets. Over the past thirty years, technology controls all aspects of teaching, grading and
student work. At one point it became necessary to create a standardized computer test to access the skills
of both teachers and students and while I was learning Microsoft Word I was require to teach students
how to use it and take the test associated with it. Report cards which use to be hand written became

bubble sheets that were run through a large computer and now we use Microsoft Excel to complete grades
in a large computer database.
Question #2 Pros & Cons: Learning Management Systems like Moodle have made grade and student
notification much simpler; however, students have become too reliant on the LMS OR they ignore it and
confusion occurs.
Word processing programs have made grading essays easier in regard to grammar and mechanics, but do
not help when it comes to evaluation of the written word.
I enjoy that idea that the computer makes it easy for us to discover information on any topic we might be
discussing, and allows us to watch videos at a moments notice.
Question #3 I am in favor of technology in the classroom because it is all around us and it is not going
anywhere, so as educators we need to find the best ways to effective use the technology we have.
Question #4 I believe the Internet has made us meaner and less respectful overall. I think social media is a
great way to stay in touch with people, but is a breeding ground for crime, dishonesty, and lack of
etiquette. Many social medias are fads and will disappear over time look what happen to MySpace. I
have already seen a decline in the use of Facebook that five years ago was all the rage.
Question #5 One negative aspect of technology is that it allows students to cheat! Buying papers, online
classes that someone else takes for you, using the Internet during an online test, etc.
Question #6 The one thing I would change about the use of technology in the classroom is to reduce the
amount of use and get back to classroom discussion which promote critical thinking. The nature of the
Internet causes people to believe things because they saw them on the Internet which is a true
misconception. We need to have open dialogue as learners so that we are not as easily influence by the
many fictional works on the Internet. The best learning takes place when individuals are questioning and
challenging theories, information and points of view.

Citations
Shirley, Terry. "The Effects of Technology on Society and Education." Personal interview. 23 Apr.
2015.
Douglas, Connie. "The Effects of Technology on Society and Education." E-mail interview. 23 Apr.
2015.