Week 7-Digital Learning

This was a great podcast on digital learning and its impact on students. It was really interesting to hear the statistics on digital media use in the younger generation. This information is especially useful as a teacher. The influential power of digital media has altered and benefited the life of many people, especially social network sites. Such sites promote civic engagement and cooperative learning communities. However, there is still a participation gap in this country. Although the gap is not as big as it once was, in my school district and even at my school, few students have access to digital media on a daily basis.
We need to make sure that every kid in America has the ability to access computers in order to download or upload information or to store school work. Access to computerized technology and all of the skills and experiences these new devices provide students is critical. The new hidden curriculum in many school districts is the use of digital media as a learning tool and social networks influence young people to take an active role in their learning.

Week 6-Living Online

It is interesting to think that right now there are possibly millions of people on some kind of digital machine. Whether on a cell phone, a hand-held game system, in a chat room, or sharing last vacations pictures online with friends, we have all been impacted by this digital realm in some way or another. It is also interesting and a bit scary to think that people have become tethered into their electronic gadgets in order to stay in constant communication. How did people ever manage to make it through their lives before the age of digital communication.
This is an interesting article about the communication culture that we are currently residing in. With information passing freely and rapidly from one person to the next, it is at times difficult for most to reach consensus on their own, with their own volition. The long term implications to our society and to individuals has yet to be fully revealed. However, a true paradox occurs for those who are willing to reach out and discover for themselves the implications of such technology.
We must keep in mind that the ability to critically analyze information without USB connections and wireless transmissions is much more powerful. It will always be more difficult for individuals to disconnect from the digital norm in order to digest information to reach a conclusion on their own.

Week 5

Myths and Realities About Technology in K-12 Schools

This is a powerful critique about the current state of technology integration in the K-12 public school system. Clearly there has been a huge movement to incorporate technology within the classroom, but often such campaigns go without the development of a step by step plan to successfully integrate technology into the schools. This happens for several reasons including, poor teacher training, lack of software and technical support, curriculum planning that doesn't provide room for technology and a number of other reasons.

I enjoyed reading this piece of writing and felt that it was an important read for any teacher, school, or district thinking about using technology within the classroom. I found the five myths to be dreadfully true. I thought myth three was interesting because it broke down teacher experience with using technology in the classroom into five stages of instructional evolution. I think I would place myself in the adoption stage, but I look forward to being able someday to approach the invention stage and become a true pioneer at incorporating technology within the classroom.

Week 4: Reforming Education with Technology

Teaching with new eyes is a wonderful little article about integrating technology into the classroom. Like so many other teachers, Mr. Snyder was trying to come up with a way to use technology and integrate job skills into his classroom in a way that would link such training to the standards. This was difficult for him. Then he attended the 1998 Nevada Milken Educators' conference and everything changed. Mr. Snyder began transforming his classroom into a living lesson. In which he and his students would make connections by internalizing their ideas.

I thought that Mr. Snyder's ideas were very interesting and valuable and I agree that we must begin to transform education into a part of the fabric of peoples lives. We need to reach out to our students and encourage them to think and to share their thoughts. By encouraging students to begin thinking openly about lessons and classroom activities we create a cohesive cooperative learning environment in which students can gain valuable learning skills.

Mr. Snyder stated that computers and technology are a part of the fabric of young peoples lives. However, in lower socioeconomic school districts many young people are being left behind. Their classrooms often do not have computers for them to use and very few of these students have computers or any electronics at home. So there seems to be a great divide that is taking place amongst people who have access to such devices and those who do not.

Week 3-Meaningful Learning

I thought that chapters 1 & 2 were a really good introduction into integrating technology into the curriculum. I especially liked the fact that they emphasized that technology can not teach students. Instead, meaningful learning results when teachers engage students with the ability to construct their own understanding through conversation, collaboration and reflection. Technology is used to foster learning by giving students a chance to think in different manners, such as causally, analogically, and expressively. I especially liked the fact that the textbook did not try to push teachers to teach with technology. Instead, it stated that teachers need to be able to prepare students to purposefully seek information using a four step process that includes planning, the use of strategies to search for information, evaluative skills, and the ability to triangulate their sources. Finally, I think that chapter two provided several interesting uses for wireless devices. From data collection with pocket PC's to Blue Tooth, cell phones, and GPS systems, students have a wide range of devices with which they can collect data. Teachers should chose these devices carefully and give students many opportunities to explore and practice with them.