Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
This video is a true reality check. It is amazing yet depressing how much time we spend on technology rather than doing other things that could be deemed more important. However, as technology advances, it gets harder and harder too look at an old-fashioned book. I personally enjoy reading for my own pleasure and I own many books but when it comes to studying, it is almost like I will do anything to escape the reading assignments.
Online classroom tools are designed to keep the students engaged and in my experience, they have been used at South in some instances. After fumbling to figure out how to turn up the volume for ten minutes, my Drama professor showed us videos from TED and youtube; I used the e-companion to fetch my notes for Biology; and my Psychology professor had his own website we downloaded our notes from. The two main subjects that I have taken with a technological void is Math and English. That is what the video was missing- a dusty, ancient overhead projector with the students asleep in the dark.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
This was a very good outline on how to be a good teacher and stay in this century while doing it. I am all for the idea that technology won't do you any good unless your a good teacher. I also agree that the mindset of a teacher is important when incorporating technology into the classroom. A teacher can be just as stubborn as his or her students. Force feeding does not work with teaching or learning.
What I really got from this blog post is that a teacher is still the main tool in teaching. That has not changed. Technology has arisen as an aide in keeping the students focused and their creativity levels above and beyond the call of duty. Seriously, what student would rather write a 1,000 word essay over blogging?
Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl was my favorite. I think is mostly the older generation that does not know computers very well. My mom is the world's worst. She blames me for her ignorance of technology and hates the fact that my two year old knows how to turn on the computer but she can't. All I can say is that these technologically illiterate people are missing out on a lot. I don't know what I would do without Facebook games.
I loved the analogy that if you are technologically illiterate, it's just like not being able to read or write. For today's generation, that is like the chicken and egg question. Which will come first for today's youth? Technology literacy or traditional paperback literacy?
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
If you watch this count long enough, which I don't recommend, you can Father Time's clock ticking. I feel like this is a countdown to an explosion. I suppose you could think of it as a ticking time bomb of information ready to explode. Be sure not show it to y2k fanatics.
How will this affect my professional career as a teacher? That means more information available on the Internet, bigger Facebook for my planning period (a joke of course), more youtube videos to show my students, and a whole lot of catching up to do.
Jessica, I totally agree with you on "It's Not About the Technology." You still have to do the "good teaching" to get through to students. You have teach so that you can certainly integrate technology into the classroom. Great Job!
ReplyDeleteI would say you make a good point, but I do think if you want to keep your students interest you need to be more innovative. I don't think everything should be educated from a book stand point. However, I do agree it’s all about good teaching. In order to be a good teacher you must be as much about passion as it is about cause. It's not only about inspiring students to learn, except teaching them how to learn, and doing accordingly in a way that is appropriate, significant, and unforgettable. Teachers who care about there technique will convey that passion to the students. I still believe that all teachers should be hi-tech.
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I also love reading a good classic. I like to consider myself a diverse and unique individual. While I love technology and could not live without it, I also have to preserve classic and traditional things. I love to bake homemade goodies, read all kinds of books, especially sweet romances, and crochet, a thing I am so glad I learned. I think it is important to find a balance in life when it comes to technology. I had a professor who makes his own websites, but he refuses to own a cell phone.
Second, my mom is also horrible with technology. She can barely operate her cell phone, and she isn't too great with computers. I think it is interesting how in every generation we have people who refuse to learn how to use technology. We have teachers, like Dr. Strange, who are brilliant when it comes to technology, and we have people our own age, even students in this class, that really don't want to learn. I do agree though that being technology illiterate is that same as not being able to read. It is so important for us to be able to use technology, especially as teachers. Technology is revolutionizing our world.