Technology Self-Assessment School 2.0

NETS 1; Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. I watched a TED video: http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Ken Robinson in the 20minute video talks about how school is killing creativity, and that we're being robbed of creativity because we're afraid to fail. Society and education in general have put math and languages among the top valued subjects that everyone should learn. Robinson addresses the fact that all societies have put creativity and arts at the bottom of what is valued. I found it very interesting and I agree with what he had to say. It reminds me of something I learned a few years ago. America since the 1960s, educationally speaking, has moved away from the liberal arts and focused more on math/science. Latin was among the typical subjects focused on in school, but due to the arms race and the race to the moon, those in charge have decided that math and science are the ideal subjects.

Here's the problem: Not everyone is wired to be math or science dominant. I agree with Robinson in the fact that I too believe we are robbing the youth of their creativity and gearing them towards the "normal" education.

Journal 4

Campbell, L. (2012). If you give a kid a video camera. Learning and Leading with Technology, 39(5),  30-33. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/February-2012.aspx.

 I found the article very informative. While I was trying to locate the article on the ISTE website I thought to myself what it could be about. As it was loading I thought back to the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the title of the article made sense to me then. Sure enough I smiled as the introduction addressed the book. It makes sense if you think about it. I thought that some of the ideas for assignments and activities were excellent. I think that by the time I'm up in front of a classroom the kids I will be teaching will have such a strong understanding of technology that assigning them 1-minute video presentations could bring the subject matter to life for them. It's something different and it will engage other students who are more visual learners. I think filming or documenting the growth of a plant or some grass over time is another excellent lesson and shows how easy it could be to incorporate the use of technology in lessons. With the technology that is available, especially what comes on mac computers nowadays, kids are capable of creating amazing things and sharing that knowledge with their peers.

 Q1: How would I use this idea in the classroom?

As an assignment I would have the kids walk around interviewing people asking a question. Have one of the kids edit the video down to a few minutes so it's just the footage that is relevant. I'd then ask the class to look at the bigger picture. Everyone is an individual with their own opinions. Opinions can be money driven (Rush Limbaugh apologizing for his comments recently due to the fact that he is losing sponsors) or belief driven. The main thing I want kids to walk away from the exercise with is that they should question everything. Why are things the way they are? Making them think for themselves is the greatest lesson of all.

 Q2: Will I use this in the classroom?

Definitely. Technology has the capabilities to reach students that learn differently. I'm not an expert, but I don't think it would be difficult for me to create a blog (I've already done that) or a youtube page and the kids that I'll be teaching, some of them surely are going to be more technologically knowledgeable than I could ever be. I'm sure they'd help me set it up.

Journal 3

Krauss, J. (2012). More than words can say: Infographics. Learning and leading with technology, 39(5),  10-14. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/February-2012.aspx. 


In the article Infographics More than Words Can Say, written by Jane Krauss, Krauss draws attention to the notion that there is more than one way to learn, and in order to better understand something, people need to think outside the box sometimes. I think it is a general understanding that everybody is different. In today's world, the idea of "normalcy" can be seen throughout every crevice of society. The thing I think people don't realize though, is that there is no such thing as normal. Nobody is perfect. Everybody has their strengths and their weaknesses. Everyone is fighting their own battle. As soon as we realize this and accept it, so many of our problems will take care of themselves.


With that being said, every student is different. Some students can gather and retain information from lectures or the books and be fine when it comes to spewing out the information on the test or quiz. But with the idea that everybody is different, while some can learn this way, a lot of people have trouble. Infographics is a blend between the old and new, and studies are showing that teachers who use this simple tool, are witnessing better results from their students.


Q1: How can this tool be used effectively in the classroom?
A1: Take the subject of History for a moment. The majority of students I feel, think history is boring. I know this because I am a student, and at times, History is a very boring subject. I didn't enjoy history when I was younger, and the common argument people will make is that there are too many dates and events to remember. I think Infographics has a place in the classroom, and I feel that when it comes time for me to teach a class about, say, American History, I will be able to teach the subject more effectively using this tool, as it can easily simplify  a complex idea or event while at the same time showing what helped cause this event to take place along with what resulted from the event.


Q2: Will I use this tool when I am a teacher?
A2: I'd like to think I will. I feel that learning has come easy for me for the most part. I've had great teachers and a great support system back home that have given me the tools to learn and succeed. I've seen friends struggle in school, although they are fantastic human beings and are way better at certain things than I am, the educational system that we have in place today is catered primarily I feel (I could be wrong, I don't have a lot of experience and my opinion is simply opinion based) to a "normal" education. I think the sooner we understand that everybody is different and some people have problems learning and retaining the subject material, the better off we will be in finding solutions that are geared for helping other individuals learn what basic knowledge "the man" feels we should know. Yes, I will definitely try to incorporate this tool in my teaching.

Journal 2

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), 12-1. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx

Miller, S. M. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience.Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(8), 14-17. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx
 

I found both the articles "Join the Flock" and "Enhance Your Twitter Experience" to be very informative and they have helped me understand the benefits of having a twitter account. It seems to me that there are so many more social media networks popping up every day, each offering something new to the consumer. I was completely against twitter. I still am a little skeptical of it...technology is changing rapidly, and I feel that as humans, for the most part, we don't accept change very well. But we have to, because the world is changing rapidly. Twitter, from what I have learned from both of these articles, is a great learning tool and a great way to connect with people all over the world on issues of interest.

Looking at the older generations, many of them are hesitant to learn about the every increasing technology that is before us. In referencing my grandmother, she can barely operate a cell phone. She would rather not have one all together if she had a choice. She has never sent out a text message, and continues to play dumb when I have tried to teach her multiple times. 

Q1. How do these articles relate to the world we live in today?

I would imagine that much of the older generation feels the same way about the Internet and technology as my grandmother does. It's important that we as (soon to be) educators continue our quest of life-long learning so that we don't fall victim to that of the older generation's lack of interest. One of the websites that I check regularly, Reddit.com which is defined by Wikipedia as “a social news website where the registered users submit content, in the form of either a link or a text ‘self’ post. Other users then vote the submission ‘up’ or ‘down,’ which is used to rank the post and determine its position on the site's pages and front page," has kept me informed about things taking place that are important. One of the main issues in America and the world today, that much of the public has no idea is even taking place, deals with the act of censoring the Internet. The American Congress has created acts such as SOPA, PIPA and ACTA which, in theory, sound good as it would eliminate Online piracy of copyrighted material. However, what would really happen is social media networks such as Facebook, Reedit, You Tube and twitter would cease to function as they already do. Google and Yahoo among other search engines would be completely transformed as well. For more information on this, click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhwuXNv8fJM.

Q2. Can I see myself using Twitter in the classroom? 

A2. Yes. I believe on the first day of class when asked what our favorite shitty television show, we were asked to text our responses to this number and I feel as if it was Twitter that compiled the poll results. If I am mistaken and it was in fact not twitter, then I apologize. Regardless, I would use twitter in the same way in order to spark interest in the classroom, as a break from the normal classroom learning procedures.