What do I think?

What do I think? Good question, and a tough one to answer. After reading all about technology, using technology and witnessing the benefits of technology, I'm still mixed. Personally, I use it and need it, and I'm not sure I want to go back to times before the technology boom. I think that I feel old, and a bit challenged when it comes to grasping all there is to know about technology. I was raised on the archaic Apple 2c. Anyone remember, or am I dating myself? I remember the wow feeling that I had when I had the few minutes to use it in school. The funny thing is that my kids recently asked me what a type writer was used for and what does it look like? It sends chills down my spine to think of the painful paper writing I attempted on a "word processor" typewriter. Children today have no concept of life before computers and the internet. They are completely satisfied in one stroke of the key to find an answer to a question they're wondering about. Research is not necessary, just a knowledge of how to navigate the internet. I'm not sure if we are losing something in the thinking process for kids. Struggling to look for certain words or books. Just simply looking up a word in a paper dictionary requires some thought process, alphabetical thinking and searching.
Sure the internet gives us immediate satisfaction, but will it imply that students become impatient to actually have to wait for something like an answer by a human, not a computer? Immediate satisfaction can be temporarily gratifying, but what are the long term ramifications of the internet? Just listening to some of the MIT and other professors speak about students today. It seems clear that the learning process has changed for all students. A few teachers even noted that teaching requires methods that "grab" the attention of students more because they are constantly bombarded with information in and out of school. How else will they keep students' attention on the lecture?
I think that we all need technology, and for us old folks, we have to embrace it, but it's also important to figure out when technology has taken over the fundamentals of learning. Our brains still need to be challenged and I think it's important to find a balance without losing too much of our essence as human beings.

Digital Nation/Growing up online

Watching the videos about Digital Nation and Growing up Online were eyeopening and mind blowing. I am familiar with a lot of the technology, but what resonates through out the videos are themes of addiction, multitasking, parents as outsiders, and how the internet is not going away. I can accept that it's here to stay, but I do have to question the ability of youth to take an outside perspective to see what are the ramifications of multiple digital technologies continually going at the same time.
Children and young teens are still physically growing and maturing. I'm not sure anyone really has the answer to how we live with technology, and embrace it at the same time. As in the videos, physicians do not know the long term affects of multiple technologies, images, ideas, etc. have on the youth. I do believe that it is something that is a battle, but must be understood and respected first. It will not and can not be taken away, but looking at Korea as an example of troubled youth regarding technology, students as young as second grade are being taught computer ethics, internet etiquette and manners. As a country, they have looked at the present and the future and are attempting to address future ethical problems with technology.
As a society, we need to know how far we can take technology and use it as a continual positive source. The temptations are now available to younger and younger children, as we've seen, even with parental guidance present. I think it boils down to respect and moderation. It's also the duty of parents to take control of an out of control situation before it manifests into a bigger problem.

Ed Technology Tool/Vlacs school

http://vlacs.org/
An educational technology tool that we talked about in class, the first class actually, is vlacs.org. It's the online, virtual middle and high school in New Hampshire. It's a great new technology that will change the future of learning for young students. It's an avenue that students take for the "non-traditional" path. Additionally, students that cannot attend a private school for whatever reason and want to be challenged academically can take full or part-time classes. If a student's high school does not have the funds to offer AP, honors, college prep courses and even SAT prep, Vlacs can enhance and attribute to higher learning for New Hampshire residents.
It's free if you live in NH and was recently initiated by Exeter Regional school as an independent organization. Vlacs is NH and US department of education approved and is available to anyone that has not been expelled, or under 21 years old. I sound like a walking advertisement for the school, but it truly has so much to offer students at mediocre schools or for students that want to work and attend school at the same time.
Students and teachers alike gain from Vlacs because it offers scheduling flexibility, expanded course offerings and one to one communication. Middle school Spanish is an example of one of the course offerings. The only requirements for the course are a microphone, a computer, and an internet connection. It's on going enrollment, so students don't have to take the traditional path of school starting at the end of August and ending in June. There are no snow days, pending power outages of course, and of course there are not any commuting costs, parking issues, etc. Today's students use computers in their everyday life. What a way to enhance the learning experience for both the student and the teacher. It allows students the freedom to create their own learning environment that allows flexibility and creativity.

Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students?

Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students? Well, there is a difference whether teachers can or want to provide equal access. I truly believe that all teachers want to provide equal access to students. Not only is the Internet useful for students, but using software for academics provides support where some teachers may be unable to relate to a student or find enough time in the class room to help. Most students that have access in school relate to computers with confidence and ease. As most older teachers grew up with little or any access to the digital world, as I find out with my ten year old showing me how to write equations for Excel!
It's amazing how quickly and accurately children grasp digital programs. There in lies the problem, how do schools fund digital access to all students? It's always a question of funding. There is never enough money in budgets to add computers for every student. If administrators can prove that school children make tremendous academic gains from computers, then possibly budgets can be adjusted to make access possible. Do I think schools can provide access to all students? No, I don't think it's possible, not this year anyway. Maybe in the future when computers are more intertwined in our lives. More computer labs and computers in the classroom are option to provide digital access for most students. Though outside of the class room is another matter entirely and mostly out of the control of teachers.

Ed Tech Talk; It's Elementary #43,

2/23/10 Interactive White Boards
This was the latest entry on It's Elementary section of Ed Tech Talk. I am fascinated by the use of Smart Boards. The announcer, Maria Knee, is a kindergarten teacher from Deerfield, NH among a few others that joined her. I have only used a Smart Board a few times, but the little I did use them, I found that it really grabbed the attention of the students (k-2).
It seems like the Smart Boards are newly introduced to the schools. Teachers are still trying to figure out how they work. From the show, I learned there are many differents types of Smartboards, some more complicated than others. When the schools can implement them, they seem to be replacing digital projectors. The beauty is that they can be combined with typing as well as handwriting. Teachers can use a wireless keyboard and mouse to easily pass it around. One announcer commented that her young, kindergarten students have a hard time not getting their hands all over the pens, boards, etc. making germs spread easily. Another important fact that was pointed out; they are expensive items. Teachers should not just use them to show movies, or only use seldomly. They should be used mainly by students to get the full experience and benefits of what the technology has to offer. This was my first Ed Tech Talk. I found the topic interesting and informative. I had no idea that there are other brands as well as more complicated, interactive boards for different learning levels.

What can we gain through collaboration?

Collaboration in education is essential to having a productive, healthy learning environment. A teacher cannot work alone in a classroom. Of course, teachers may only interact with students in a school day, not their peers due to the fact that the day is filled with teaching students. However, teachers need to work in partnership with other teachers. There are many tools to use for collaboration. The obvious choice is the internet. There is an endless amount of information on the web that allows teachers to work with other teachers in other parts of the country or world for that matter. For example, the amount of information on the Department of Education's web site is endless. There are blogs for lesson planning, blogs for healthy habits in the school to links for grant funding. A teacher can see what is going on in other classrooms and integrate those ideas into their own lessons. Teachers not only gain knowledge from collaboration, but support and interaction from other peers enhances classroom learning for students.

K-12 Online conference post

Engagning our Youngest Minds, by Jose Rodriguez, December 16, 2009
I am in awe of all of the endless information on the internet. I was previously aware of the ability to find information about different subjects, but not really sure how to find something specific about a topic. As an adult out of college since 1997, I have come to realize that I have limited computer skills. I thought I had a basic knowledge of technology and the internet, but am slowly finding out there is so much that I do not know. I found this 10 minute presentation interesting because it touched on the subject about passion and the classroom. It is something that impresses me when I see teachers make a connection with a student or take extra time out to help a student learn more than just words and numbers. This short track presented a topic dear to the presenter, passion. Not just personally, but passion in teaching young students. She was touched by a young 5 year old that started a fundraiser for a panda bear. She raised awarness as well as $200 to help support the endangered animal. The topic touched upon integrating technology into learning for individual students to maintain individual passion. Looking for that "wow" for students in a world where young students are disengaged and bored with school. Keeping them engaged in current technology helps to nurture their interests while learning at the same time. Her view is that technology can be a tool to create a book, make contact with scientists, etc. in order to keep students engaged.