Don't Get Left Behind!

Chapter 7: This chapter states that “learners finally have a voice in their own learning activities” (pg 205). Today we don’t need specific instructions from teachers to learn about a subject. We can go right to the web and learn about anything we want. We can engage in online videos such as YouTube and Common Craft to educate ourselves in any language we desire. How amazing is that. What was interesting was how one multicultural class was able to display multiple windows of the same video simultaneously in multiple subtitles so that no matter what nationality you were you were able to get the same information as the person next to you. How great would this be to bring into the classroom where not all you students spoke English.

Technology as we are learning can open a huge gateway for learners, but also mentioned in this chapter can make it very “difficult for us to realize who we are leaving behind if we believe in it to firmly without continuous reflection” (pg. 233). Even in America not every child has access to a computer at home. We need to make sure that even though technology is exciting and can help teachers and students learn in a great way; we also need to remember what we teach them in the classroom might not be followed up with at home. We also need to try not to give homework assignments that might require a child to use a computer/internet or at least give those children an opportunity to finish the assignment in class.

This chapter also talks about how much videos and gaming are being downloaded and how much bandwidth is being taken up. On page 209, Curtis Bonk asks the question about the government coming in and shutting down because of all the videos that are being downloaded. (Some educational and some for fun) This made me think about what would happen if the government came and shut down these types of resources such as YouTube, facebook, or even text messaging. I think today this is all kids now. We at least can remember the old way before text messaging and can revert to the old system, but if this is all children now they might not even know where to start. That is why even though technology is a great tool. I also believe that children need to learn to be creative without technology too. What do you think?

References:
Bonk, Curtis (2009). The World is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education. San Francisco. JosseyBass.

Chapter 8: Get Involved!!!

Chapter 8 is very inspirational and gives great meaning of how technology not only helps the privilege but can also help those who have no access to technology. After reading this chapter it makes me want to join one of these organizations such as Twinbooks, e-pal, and ilearn in order to give other children the opportunity that our children may have. What touched me the most was the story of 1kg and how these volunteers travel to places that have little or no access to technology and are able to bring outside information to them, and then in return they can teach the rest of the world information about them.

This chapter opened my eyes to a whole new way of using the web. It also opened my mind to want to find a way that I can be part of this exciting evolvement. I find it fascinating how already so many schools around the world are interacting with one another and some are even involved in certain activities that are going on in the classroom. When I was in school this wasn’t really even thought of. If only it was, maybe I would have been more interested in history and social studies. Hopefully, my children will get these opportunities and will love to learn.

Chapter 1: Ustream HUH!!!

I am a person who does not no anything about technology (ask my husband). In chapter 1 I learned the terms that relate to ustreaming such as Twitter, Edtalk, and Skype. I never realized how much one can learn by the use of technology and how much one can learn about other cultures without having to leave the classroom. What surprised me the most is how fast technology and its theories are advancing. Look how far technology has opened global expansion from Friedman's theory to Florida and Straub's theories and how using technology has become our societies norm.

What I liked about this chapter is how it broke down what the openers are used for and why they were created.

WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR:

. creating and finding information
. locating, selecting, and such resources and generating ways to access
them.

WHY IT WAS CREATED:

. to divide online resources in a way that educators, trainers, teachers,
freelance lectures, instructional designers, and others would be able
to more easily and more actively employ them in their own instruction,
rather than avoiding the Web at all costs (Bonk,2009).

References:

Bonk, Curtis (2009). The World Is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education. San Francisco. Jossey Bass.

Hello! My name is Angela and this is my first year in my Master's program. My goal is to get my degree in Elementary Education/Special Education. I have a 3 year old daughter who is my inspiration in wanting to work with children. Currently I work in a poker room in Salem NH which is fun and different from any job I ever had. I look forward to working with all of you this semester.