Technology, Education and Educational Technology

Dr Robert's Presentation:

Technology is a major problem at my school. It’s not only a problem because students don’t have access to it. It’s because students haven’t been taught how to use modern technology effectively.  Although my school is a very small continuation high school, being emerged with low socio-economics and low academic performance students, one would think that technology is not a part of these student’s lives at all.   

Well we must define the types of technology used and exposures students’ have when not inside of the class. Most of my students do not have computers at home but they use the internet all the time. Their connection comes from their mobile devices. With the topic of technology I think of students using it rather than being exposed to it.  However listening to Dr. Robert’s presentation I gained fact finding information regarding to technology use and exposure.

When Dr. Robert mentioned there was a difference between the use of technology and exposure to technology and how it has grown in the last 5 years, I thought what are the effects on my students and what good does it have on them. He did a really good job of explaining how is research went and the interesting points from his presentation were the increased levels of multi-tasking using technology and how technology has reduced the reading and writing on print.

Multi-tasking using technology is very common among today’s youth and many times teachers expect students to be able to do it with ease. The problem is multi-tasking slows down your thought process long term and usually people end up forgetting things too fast.  I wondered if too much technology exposure leads to the lack of multi-tasking. I thought about my students and some of their disabilities, such as ADD (attention deficit disorder).  I have students that believe they can retain information texting, talking to their friends, tweeting/ facebooking all while I am teaching a lesson. When they are told to put the phone away they have quick responses as to why it helps students learn better.  It is puzzling that with so much multi-tasking using technology they cannot multi-task when given directions because of their attention span.

I am not sure if their exposure to technology slows them down from wanting to do things manual or them thinking about anything because technology has been doing the thinking for them. It would be interesting to see what the data is now with the use and exposure to iPads and nooks, and other electronic devices. 

In the future, I would like to introduce my students to more experiences involving the use verses the exposure to technology. In my opinion the use of technology may be better than the multiple exposures to it. 

As for reading and writing print, as Dr. Robert said the reading maybe the same if not more because many things online have to be read.  My further question is: Do more student read now than they did before do to the mass of  reading materials technology have available?  How much do student retain when reading online?

Response to NY Time article " More Pupils are Learning Online, Fueling Debate on Quality":

The idea of increasing graduation rate and improving student’s motivation to learning is great but to require student to take online classes is wrong. The school where I work offered online classes to students that were behind in credits this summer. In the beginning it seemed like a great idea. Throughout the process of having students take the online courses I noticed that some subject matter courses worked better than others. As a science teacher, I notice biology and chemistry didn’t work out, plus there is no way a student can get true hands on experience for the true meaning of science or science inquiry online only. I think it is crazy to think raising the graduation rate means getting students to take online classes to learn all of the things students should know in order to succeed in the “REAL WORLD”. Unless our world is moving in a direction where people will have less interaction and only think of people as virtual beings will it work?

Companies might think they are doing students a favor but if the teachers are not also favored then one would think problems will eventually occur. I wonder if the companies that encourage online courses think about how their employees will perform once they are hired and are expected to work with other people as well as take verbal commands by the employer.

All in all, we are at risk for so many things! It’s hard for people to realize sticking to traditional teaching will have a better outcome for families and communities, which are the core of the students and the foundation of education. Teachers are important and people will soon see that nothing built fast last. It’s a fad. People think it’s cool.  I can honestly say I enjoy using technology to teach however my lessons are captured best when little to no technology is used. Students are able to establish their own ideas and the ability to create long lasting memories.   

Response to "Technology Resources for the Teacher":

1. The Cool Timer can assist my students with organization and scheduling their classroom task. However, I worry that it may give student undesired pressure. But on the other hand it will prepare them for the future business world.

·       http://download.cnet.com/Cool-Timer/3000-2350_4-10062255.html is a cute, small, free timer application: students stay on task better when presented with a visible time limit.

2.  With the PuzzleMaker I can have students create them and use them for peer homework assignments. In the future students can use them to create activities for their future children and other family members.

·       http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com: generates crosswords, acrostics, word searches.

3. It is my goal to have my students do more scientific writing with lab reports as well. Having a tool students can use for citing information can help them become respectful writer and reduce plagiarism.

·       http://www.easybib.com/ and http://citationmachine.net  are tools to help students compile bibliographies/works cited lists. Each does both MLA and APA formats.  
4     
      4. Being able to activate the creativity in high school students is a challenge; with this animation tool it will motivate them to use a higher level of thinking. In the future students will be able look back on the information they learned in school and teach others.

·       http://www.xtranormal.com/edu/ and http://animoto.com  are fun tools that have potential for student presentations: the author provides a script and stage directions, and animated characters act them out in a video.