Technology is Taking Over the World...

After reading "Learning in the Digital Age," by Mark Prensky I have become even more convinced that technology is taking over the world. Initially, I grew up without a computer in my home. I learned how to type in junior high. In high school, I was introduced to email accounts and created my first account my sophomore year. I received my first cell phone when I was 18. I am 25 now, and have just begun texting. Clearly, our generation is in the digital age. The world is at our finger tips. Every month, there is a new gadget or gizmo that we must have. If we don't receive internet access within seconds, we become frustrated. We want things, and we want them now. The classroom is greatly affected by this technology movement. However, I fear this mindset will make our generation and the generations to come lazy and unpersonal. Prensky brought up some good points about how technology can help teachers and students in the classroom. However, overall I feel the perks do not outweigh the negative connotations.

Prensky made the point that we should allow students a voice and ownership over what they learn and how they learn it. I agree with him to an extent. However, the students are there to learn from the teachers (the experts). Teachers go through a lot of schooling to become the expertise in their subject area. Students should trust their teachers to present the information to the best of their capability. Teachers may grow complacent and stagnant; however, I do not feel that the lack of technology is to blame for it. If students want more technology in their classrooms, my question is why? I do not trust students enough to stay focused while they have the worldwide web right in front of them. Students need to learn how to pay attention to someone who is teaching them. This teaches them discipline, respect and focus.

Prensky said, "Our brightest students, trusted with responsibility, will surprise us all with their contributions." I do agree with him. However, I think we can give students responsibility without having them depend on technology as a crutch. Perhaps we can place them in charge of taking attendance or make them small group leaders for projects. There are many opportunities to instill trust and responsibility to students without having them solely rely on the internet.

I thought the point Prensky brought up about the use of video games enabling students to learn at their own level. That was interesting and I do think video games can be useful for this. However, I think the teacher needs to be extra careful about what video games they allow their students to participate in. I also think the time they play in class needs to be structured and highly monitored to make sure they are staying on track.

"If every district or school found just one expert willing to contribute his or her expertise; set up and videotaped a meaningful series of Q&A exchanges with students; and put those videos on the Web, enhancing them with additional relevant materials, we'd soon have a 21st century curriculum," said Prensky. I feel like Prensky brings up a great point here. Technology can speed up the process of education and can enable students to have the information just a "click away." However, I think there is a great deal of appreciation for face to face communication with a teacher and his or her students. They can learn to work out problems and issues together face to face. I fear that with the way technology is taking over the world, this face to face communication will lose its importance and we will no longer be able to understand how to communicate in person.

I think there are many great advantages in the use of technology in the classroom. However, if we allow it to run the school and take the place of a teacher's job, I fear to see what future generations will look like. I like the idea that teachers can keep grades easier, get in touch with parents easier and more often and the use of video games can help a math student work at his or her own pace. However, I think we should not allow technology to fully take the place of teaching in a good, old-fashioned lecture style.

Powerpointlessness

According to Jamie McKenzie's article, Scoring Power Points, (http://www.fno.org/sept00/powerpoints.html#anchor5.2) powerpointless is a term used to describe how useless powerpoints are when students devote more attention to special effects than devoting time to study the issue in depth.

In the article, she brought up how students will develop mentalsoftness.

"Unless we take care to develop the foundations for rigorous independent thought, we risk raising a generation of young people inclined to accept the sound bites, mind bytes, eye candy and mind candy so typical of the new information landscape. There are, after all, millions being spent on marketing to shape the thinking of consumers and citizens. Misinformation and infotainment are rampant, with simple answers to complex questions appearing like the dandelions of spring - bright, appealing, widespread and persistent."

I cannot recall a time where I have witnessed powerpointlessness. As I recall the presentations I watched as an audience member, I remember appreciating the use of powerpoint. It was different. It was cutting. It caught my eye more than a monotonous, note-card presentation. However, I do recall some presentations where the presenter simply read what was on the slide and did not elaborate further into the material.

According to Jamie McKenzie, we can do a number of things to teach studetns to learn to think and communicat thoughtfully with PowerPoint.

1. Emphasize ideas and logic. (Provide sufficient evidence and supplement slides with text.)
2. Design artfully. (Use powerful images, consider who your audience is, avoid being wordy, etc.)
3. Deliver dramatically. (eye contact, avoid reading slides, speak with conviction)

Powerpoint can be an effective tool to communicate with conviction, thouroughness and creativity. Eighty percent of one's time should be spent researching the topic. The other twenty percent should be spent on the presentation. If done in this manner, it will be effective and portray the important elements about a topic.

How Technology Improves Higher Order Thinking...

"The aim of creative thinking is to stimulate curiosity and promote divergence."

Technology can improve higher order thinking. The use of technology varies up the way students learn. Rather than the rote and mundane forms of learning from the traditional lecture style, the computer is used to stimulate and foster learning in a new and creative way.

Some may view technology as a form of distraction to the students. I used to view it this way as well. However, if utilized in the right way...technology can be a great asset to teachers and help improve students' higher order thinking capacity.

Teachers can have students narrow down their focus and direct them to websites that will help them find information they need. They can comprehend the information they read by re-writing it in their own words. Students will apply the material they read by taking a stance on whether they agree with what they read or not. ThinkTank is a resource that can help students analyze the information. They can use a resource like Backflip to create folders of the Webpages they got their research from. Lastly, they can create online surveys for their peers to evaluate the results.

Technology can be a huge asset in enabling the teachers to teach curriculum and train students in higher order thinking. However, they must be selective and careful in pointing them to the right webpages and online resources.

Entry 1

About Me:

I love being active. I enjoy the Great Outdoors and marveling at God's creation. I have a large family with five brothers and 2 sisters. My parents were divorced for 6 years, but got remarried! That was definitely one of the biggest miracles I have ever seen in my life! I graduated from Trinity International University in 2007 with a degree in Christian Ministries. My emphasis was Camp Ministry and Outdoor Education. I am now back at Trinity and have begun my first year in the Masters in Teaching Program.

I have worked as a youth leader for 6 years, served as a camp counselor for 8 years and worked as a soccer coach for 5 years. I love how kids are impressionable and love being able to make a positive impact in their lives. I desire to be a middle school history teacher. I believe every person has the ability to be a historymaker. My hope is to teach my students about the trends and characteristics of the leaders and historymakers of the past and encourage them to reflect on their own life and realize the potential they have to impact history like those who have gone before them.

Today's society is all about technology: cell phones, cameras, laptops, internet, Ipod's, etc. I remember the first time using a computer in high school. I created my first email account when I was a sophomore in high school and received my first cell phone my senior year. I took a couple computer classes in high school and college. I feel very comfortable with Microsoft Word. I can handle my own with Excel and Powerpoint; however, there is definitely room for improvement. I use my cell phone and text message regularly. I also love taking pictures and am very comfortable on my digital camera. I am very comfortable with the internet. Although I struggle when it comes to researching and finding professional, peer-reviewed articles.

I don't really have any expectations for this class. I hope to improve and clean up my technology skills and learn as I go along. A red flag popped up in my mind as I watched the videos about technology in school. I fear that computer's are taking away from the important face to face interaction with humans. I do think technology can help in the classroom. However, I feel it is vital for teachers to still interact with their students and do more of the formal teaching on a consistent basis.