So, what do we gain from the plethora of gadgets that fill our pockets and backpacks?
1) Universal connectivity to everyone
2) The ability to organize large events
3) Access to a expansive digital marketplace
4) Access to a vast database of humanities ideas and written works
5) Distraction from what is happening in the real world
This video, along with many others condemns technology as a needless distraction from important material that we could be learning in our classrooms. This is actually not the problem at all. The problem is that methods of teaching are ignoring the positive uses of such technology and magnifying the problems. If teachers were to start learning how to use technology instead of wishing for the good old days when students had less distractions from class.
However, I don't think those good old days ever existed. Students have always been distracted by something. First the Blues were alienating the youth, then rock n' roll, then alternative, then rap. Culture rolls on regardless of what teachers try to do to control children.
Instead of talking about the negatives when using technology. Why don't we talk about the positives
Smartboard
One thing I've never understood is why are there no Smartboards at SLU? Don't we pay enough money for them. There was at least one smart board in my High School. I wonder why support for this piece of technology has fallen in College?
Podcasts
Ever since I downloaded and listened to my first podcast I was hooked. I'll be the first to admit that there is a lot of crap out there. One of the most educational podcasts that I have listened to is Stuff You Should Know from How Stuff Works
Project Gutenberg
This database is what the Internet was made for in the first place. Most important books that are old enough to be in creative commons are here.
There are many more projects on the Internet and devices that can be helpful to eduction. They just have to be found and put to good use.
Blogger
It would be strange if I didn't mention the tool that I am using right now. Blogger is a brilliant site that can be used for teaching. Many teachers have a blog created for their classes. This can provide a place for everyone to have an equal voice and it's an excellent place to post multimedia to enrich a learning experience. In my Youth Literature class we have already created a blog called The Less Dusty Shelves.
-Jason McCoy
p.s.
This video must be popular because I watched it in my Growth and Development class
I'm pretty sure there was a SmartBoard in my Growth and Development class last year... Not that anyone used it. I've also wondered why we're not using them.
ReplyDeleteSo this is a really cool blog. I love how you put so many different things into it. In 7th and 8th grade my math teacher had a SmartBoard and we all thought it was the coolest thing ever. Now all the teachers have one. It is a great learning tool for sure.
ReplyDeleteI do think there are many advantages to technology. I also think it increases the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots."
ReplyDeleteSmart boards are fantastic, (and would really engage students) but I plan on teaching in inner-city, under privileged schools. I just don't foresee having a smart board in my classroom, ever, which is a sad fact. I wish we could create all classrooms equally, but the sad reality is that there is a huge disparity between suburban schools and inner-city schools.
I love the smart boards! I grew up having them in my school and I think they are so useful! It is weird that we never use them here because I see that they are set up in the classrooms but I never have had a teacher use them.
ReplyDeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteI agree...Technology appears expensive. However, this is only because most people don't look at free and DIY technology alternatives.
When I was in High School I did all of my homework on a computer that cost $2. One Dollar for the CPU and one for the Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse. I got it through my mothers office. I had no problem doing all my school work.
I am posting this comment from a $600 dollar laptop that is running Ubuntu. A Linux freeware operating system. I do not pay for programs to do my homework in college because they are Open Source Programs.
As far as your comment about Smartboards. I agree that they are expensive and most inner city schools won't have them.
However, if you check out John Chung Lee's work on his Wiimote smartboard you can do the whole thing for less than $20 if you already have a projector.
Best,
Jason
Jason,
ReplyDeleteI too wonder why SLU does not support Smart Technology. I find this very disappointing as a smartboard is so much more intuitive in the classroom than are a computer and projector alone. It doesn't provide the same capabilites as a Smartboard and doesn't have the same feel of teaching as a teacher cannot go up to the board and do a math problem by hand. The possiblities with a Smartboard in a Math and Science class are endless and it is essential when you move to higher levels of math, like adding the third dimension for example. Without these technologies, I feel that we will continue to fall behind rivaling nations in these areas. Should we have Smartboards in high schools across the United States, a district can then offer Calculus III, a course that students in China take in high school, yet students in America typically don't see until college. This is very interesting!
I would like to know how you put the Youtube videos directly on the blog without using a gadget. These videos are awesome!
I also want to know how you made the dandelion background!