“Technology and You” | By Mindy Farry, BCHF Accountability and School Improvement Team
Each year, Buckeye Community Hope Foundation sponsors a writing challenge for grades three through twelve to emphasize the importance of writing in academic achievement. No matter the grade level and no matter the future plans for students, writing and thinking will be an integral part of their lives. Never has that been more apparent than with the world of social media, technology, and artificial intelligence.
This year’s writing challenge asked students to focus on the impact of technology in their lives. Elementary students (grades three through five) were asked to read a book, When Charlie McButton Lost Power, and to reflect on what they would miss most if all the power went out. We watch Charlie in the book struggle to figure out what he should do in his day-to-day life without television, the internet, and communication methods. The elementary overall winner, fifth grader, Sabrina Ibrahim is from International Academy of Columbus. Sabrina’s voice was humorous and thoughtful as she opined about how technology had taught her many things from YouTube videos to televisions, especially how to become the STI (Sabrina Tasting Industry) for her mother’s cooking. But, as Sabrina said, “…not everything is cupcakes, hamsters, kittens, unicorns, and sunshine.” She remarked about the advantages and disadvantages of our addiction to technology.
The middle school challenge asked students to discuss how social media and the internet, in general had affected our ability to connect and communicate with others. The middle school winner, and overall (all grades three through twelve) winner was seventh grader, Soraya Deukam, from Hamilton County Math Science Academy. Soraya argued that technology has driven people apart. While recognizing the benefits of technology, the essay says, “While technology brings people together, it also drives them apart.” The author’s opinion is that the harms far outweigh the advantages of a technological world. Soraya discusses serious issues such as loss of friendship, the inability to establish relationships, and mental health concerns.
And finally, our high school winner, Leonie Monreal, a ninth grader from Focus North High School, conducted research about the effects of technology on the world. The essay, “From Typewriters to Tablets: How Technology Empowers Communication and Education,” takes the opposite approach and provides research that convinces Leonie that blaming the technology device for misuse is like blaming an artist’s canvas for a less than desirable piece of art. Rather, it is the artist, AKA, the user, who is to blame for misuse. The research for this essay is extensive, citing eleven recent research studies to defend the thesis.
Forty-three entries were received this year from close to half of all Buckeye Community Hope Schools. We appreciate and honor all our writers and their teachers who worked so diligently on this project. The future looks bright when students “tell it like it is”!
Congratulations to our Writing Challenge Winners:
ELEMENTARY:
3RD GRADE: SIRAJ ABDULLAHI (International Academy of Columbus)
4TH GRADE: YAHYA AHMED (International Academy of Columbus)
5TH GRADE: SABRINA IBRAHIM (International Academy of Columbus)
OVERALL ELEMENTARY WINNER: SABRINA IBRAHIM (International Academy of Columbus)
MIDDLE SCHOOL
6TH GRADE: HUDA MOHAMED (International Academy of Columbus)
7TH GRADE: SORAYA DEUKAM (Hamilton County Math Science Academy)
8TH GRADE: GERENA KACIANA (Imagine Great Western Academy)
OVERALL MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER: SORAYA DEUKAM (Hamilton County Math Science Academy)
HIGH SCHOOL
9 TH: LEONIE MONREAL (Focus North High School)
10TH: AISHA SHARIFF (Focus North High School)
11TH: CHAZ STOKES (Focus Southwest)
12TH:ALEXA CHATTOS (Focus Southwest)
OVERALL HIGH SCHOOL WINNER: LEONIE MONREAL (Focus North High School)
OVERALL WINNER GRADES 3-12: SORAYA DEUKAM (Hamilton County Math Science Academy)