How Much Should We Focus on Technology in the Classroom?

There is a strong view that today's children are so plugged in to the digital age that they have trouble connecting in school without the use of technology to keep their interest.  I was amazed to read that the graduating class of 2011 had the lowest SAT scores in reading in history.  This is truly a problem.  There is obviously an issue with today's youth in that they are so used to interacting with each other via computer, phone, etc., and receiving their information via the same means.  I also read that a study showed that only 2% of students surveyed admitted using a book to do research for research projects -- presumably meaning they use the internet for their research. 

There are so many points that could be covered on this topic, but the main one I want to discuss is that I am not sure I agree that teachers need to focus so much on integrating technology into the classroom in order to allow students to achieve.  Yes, I think technology should be introduced judiciously in order to gain student's attention and in the appropriate places, but it is also important for students to regain those skills in reading that they have so clearly lost based on their SAT scores.  For instance, going back to the research paper example -- by doing research via search engines, when you plug a term into a search engine, you are typically taken to the answer you need directly.  You lose the opportunity to find ancillary information that may become relevant to your paper or make it better that you would have if you had to dig through books to find the information you needed. 

We have been reading a book in my grade level Professional Learning Community called Focus by Mike Schmoker that discusses getting back to the basics in class and cutting out all the technology and getting back to just the reading and writing -- "finding simplicity in the Age of Distraction."  (a free version is available for download on Schmoker's website here http://zenhabits.net/focus-book/). He talks about classrooms around the country that have gone back to a formulaic teaching pattern, using simple technology such as overhead projectors, that have raised their teaching scores tremendously. 

All that said, I think technology has its place.  I can see using a smart board to get kids' interest in my third grade classroom.  But I can also see going too far and having the technology distract them from what they are supposed to be learning (they are easily distracted).  When it comes to using social media, such as the high schoolers using Facebook, you have to walk a very fine line.  Most school districts have social network sites blocked (for a good reason) so it would be hard to have students use them as in class tools.

Technology is wonderful for communication purposes.  I love being able to email weekly newsletters to those parents with email access, although that is only about half of the parents.  It is great to shoot off a quick email to parents at the end of the day.  We have a class website where I upload the newsletter and update a class calendar.  I can put parent information or other pertinent class information. 

Overall, I think technology should be used sparingly in the classroom, and used in the appropriate manner.