A Vision of Students Today by Michael Wesch
This film accurately depicts what many students experience in college today. Personally, most of what was said does not apply to my educational experience, but I see evidence of each of those facts in the students around me.
I liked the concept of having the different facts written on chairs and chalkboards and different places around the classroom. However, the camera work was a little blurry and it hurt my eyes to try to strain and read everything. Perhaps they could have used a better camera. Perhaps they could have read the facts out loud along with the words on the screen. They need to do something to make it easier to read.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
I agree with Hines that technology is only a tool. While it can enhance the learning environment, it is not a necessary part of the learning environment in most cases. Technology does go to waste in a lot of schools. Why bother having the school spend thousands of dollars to allow students check facebook at lunch and to print off papers between classes? Why not just have the students write their papers by hand?
If the technology is being used to make the learning experience better, if teachers are willing to learn to use this technology efficiently and creatively, then the money has not gone to waste. Maybe students who don't grasp the material one way will be helped by newer technology, but the teacher has to make an effort to ensure that each student is learning something at the end of the day.
Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher? by Karl Fisch
Fisch's post about how teachers need to change the way they approach technological illiteracy won Edublog's Most Influencial Post of the Year in 2007 and for one very good reason. Teachers today do need to step back and think about how ridiculous it is that a lot of them are unwilling to learn or teach in a widely accepted medium. Computers are not the enemy and have quickly become part of everday life for many people in our country and in other countries around the world. Why not embrace them? Why not use them to your advantage in the classroom?
The fact is that computers, while not necessary for all forms of learning, can enhance almost any classroom if used properly. Teachers should be sitting idly by and setting a bad example for their students. Refusing to learn how to use and implement computers in the classroom is like telling students that progress doesn't matter.
Gary's Social Media Counter
This film accurately depicts what many students experience in college today. Personally, most of what was said does not apply to my educational experience, but I see evidence of each of those facts in the students around me.
I liked the concept of having the different facts written on chairs and chalkboards and different places around the classroom. However, the camera work was a little blurry and it hurt my eyes to try to strain and read everything. Perhaps they could have used a better camera. Perhaps they could have read the facts out loud along with the words on the screen. They need to do something to make it easier to read.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
I agree with Hines that technology is only a tool. While it can enhance the learning environment, it is not a necessary part of the learning environment in most cases. Technology does go to waste in a lot of schools. Why bother having the school spend thousands of dollars to allow students check facebook at lunch and to print off papers between classes? Why not just have the students write their papers by hand?
If the technology is being used to make the learning experience better, if teachers are willing to learn to use this technology efficiently and creatively, then the money has not gone to waste. Maybe students who don't grasp the material one way will be helped by newer technology, but the teacher has to make an effort to ensure that each student is learning something at the end of the day.
Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher? by Karl Fisch
Fisch's post about how teachers need to change the way they approach technological illiteracy won Edublog's Most Influencial Post of the Year in 2007 and for one very good reason. Teachers today do need to step back and think about how ridiculous it is that a lot of them are unwilling to learn or teach in a widely accepted medium. Computers are not the enemy and have quickly become part of everday life for many people in our country and in other countries around the world. Why not embrace them? Why not use them to your advantage in the classroom?
The fact is that computers, while not necessary for all forms of learning, can enhance almost any classroom if used properly. Teachers should be sitting idly by and setting a bad example for their students. Refusing to learn how to use and implement computers in the classroom is like telling students that progress doesn't matter.
Gary's Social Media Counter
I can't believe how quickly those numbers are multiplying. As someone going into the teaching field, those numbers might effect my future career in a number of ways. I could use social networking as an advantage in the classroom and set up a page for my students to ask questions and discuss things that are going on in class. This would be a positive thing. Another possibility could be that a can't stop my students from texting, tweeting, getting on facebook and sending im's. My future student might not be able to focus enough of their attention on me to learn anything.
I was thinking the same thing when watching the Social Media Counter. That could have good implications like you said, but there could also be a million problems connected to the exponential rate at which those numbers are increasing. It's going to be difficult to teach a classroom full of students who are more concerned with texting a friend in the next classroom than with learning.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what you said about technological literacy. It's true that technology isn't necessary for all forms of learning, but as educators we need to know how to harness new technology and turn it towards making learning more interesting for students.
I agree with you about having to use computers to our advantage in the classromms, since they are already apart of our everyday lives. The trick would be to use them wisely and not waste then like you said. I also agreed with your opinion of the camera work in the first video-a litle shotty; and your idea of saying the words aloud would have worked better.
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