Thursday, February 23, 2012

Blog Post 5

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please? by Scott McLeod

Mr. Scott McLeod is the Associate Professor of Educational Administration at Iowa State. He is also a co-creator of the Did You Know videos, and the director of the UCEA center for the advanced study of Technology Leadership in Education.

Computer Danger
He had a very interesting approach about letting students have the use of technology. Although his sarcasm was quite funny, there was truth in every word. Educators should be aware that the more use of technology will help prepare our students for the future. His statement also tells us that there are things ("sexing, predators, porn") to be aware of when using it. Therefore, we should take all the precautionary measure we need, but still allow students to have access to technology and a better future. In the long run, I feel that those who have practice with it will be at a better advantage as they progress throughout school.

2. The iSchool Initiative (Mobile Learning) by: Travis Allen

I am on the fence with this one, as I can see the pro's and con's from this idea. Travis feels like the idea of the iTouch will replace the textbooks, pencils, paper, and copy machines that the schools have to pay for. If a schools ultimate goal is to "go green" then I guess this would be the best program. However, It also makes me wonder, if we research, how the iTouch is being produced…starting from getting all the precious minerals out of some Amazon region where the rivers are being highly polluted. Does this still typically mean that we are "going green"???
I personally think that technology can be used in any classroom, however, not every lesson requires the use of technology and especially an iTouch.

On the flip side, I do see it helping schools save money, just from the standpoint of cost-savings on the price of books. Can you imagine having textbooks that are interactive and in electronic format; a means of updating your curriculum by downloading the latest updates? That just may not be a bad idea. However, my main concern is if the idea of the iTouch comes into the school and basically forces out the basic skills (ie, teaching students to write,, etc), will this truly solve Americas education problem?

Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir By: Eric Whitacre
Vitural Choir
As a person who loves music, this video was simply a pulchritudinous work of art. It also reminded me of Filip Diarra's One Man Symphony that I watched a few years ago. Eric Whitacre' has done a remarkable job using technology to create this virtual choir. I'm sure it was not an easy task to deliver such a great concept. I am quite sure that he spent numerous hours auditioning every singer and editing the videos. It simply amazes me, to see so many people come together from all over the world to make one thing happen; create music.

I feel that this video shows that there is no limit to what you can learn and create with technology. When enough people with creative and innovative minds come together the possibilities are endless. We as teachers should make sure that we give our students the opportunity to experience school and life with technology.


Teaching in the 21st Century By: Kevin Robert
According to the video, Kevin Robert feels that teachers are no longer the source of information, but the filters of information. With the internet available on all the tech tools and personal devices, students can access information anywhere, anyplace, and anytime. The video stated that entertainment is short lived and engagement has long term results. In other words, as teachers we should not just sit our students in front of computers to study information but to actively engage them to apply what is being taught.
I feel to be a 21st Century teacher you have to use computers, Youtube, etc to an extent where we leave no room for it be viewed as entertainment. When I think of a 21st Century Teacher I think of this class and Dr. Strange. He has come up with a way for his students to use and process the skills needed to be taught. I feel that this is a perfect example as to what teachers are suppose to do. Teachers should guide their students in learning and teach them how to apply it in everyday life.

I can remember on numerous occasions when I would cram all these facts in for a test, thinking when will I even use this information? Sometimes I never even knew how to apply it. This idea brings to mind Standardized Test. How would you measure the learning of students in the 21st Century Classroom? I'm not exactly sure how to do that but, I do feel that Standardized test will probably no longer be the proper test to use in such classrooms. With all of this being said, I think that this is a reminder to me to not just teach the skills but to allow students to apply it and use it in a everyday life situations.

Reading Rockets Website Review

Reading Rockets Logo
This was a very resourceful website not only for teachers but parents, and all those in the education field. In grades K-6, literacy skills are very important. The reason I say that is because by the end of Kindergarten, students are expected to know how to read. For myself, keeping myself up-to-date with the latest strategies for all learners is something very important. I was able to find several things through the Reading Rockets website that would be very useful.

Having taught lower elementary students, Reading is one of the main focus. I found the site Struggling Readers to be very beneficial to me. There are great articles to read about in understanding why students struggle in reading and ways to help them. The Classroom Strategies page has great research-based classroom strategies to help build and strengthen literacy skills in the following areas: print awareness, phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing. I also would enjoy the Meet the Author Podcasts, as it would be a great way to introduce the author the of books that you read to your students. Although, I didn't get to explore everything on this page, everything that was of interest to me was FREE. Having free resources as a teacher is always a plus.

2 comments:

  1. "if we research, how the iTouch is being produced…starting from getting all the precious minerals out of some Amazon region where the rivers are being highly polluted. " Are you suggesting that this is an accurate description of production problems with the iPod Touch? Not that I know of. I think your real fear is that you are afraid that teachers will be replaced with technology. Am I correct?

    "... that I watch ..." Should be that I watched...

    "...on numerous occasion ..." Since we know occasion should be plural because you use numerous you must make it plural by adding an s.

    Yes, EDM310 actively tries to teach by having you do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dr. Strange, I have made the appropriate corrections. Thanks. As far as the producing of the iTouch, that was my assumption before I actually researched. You asked if I was afraid that teachers would be replaced with technology. The answer is, yes. I wanted to say that but did not want to sound like a bitter laid off teacher. Although I understand that there are certain things that technology cannot teach (ie. the ability to collaborate productively with peers, writing and speech, character, etc), but would these reasons be good enough when budget cuts need to be made?!?

    ReplyDelete