The subject on modern society's educational system is something I am so very adamant about. The clip on YouTube.com was very enlightening and hopefully impacted teacher's tactics on education. The clip bluntly pointed out that computer skills are not just a catalyst to research and learning, but an essential element to excelling in college. The internet provides us with information from years ago, resources that we could never got a hold of without it. Google can pretty much give you a huge variety of resources to whatever topic being searched. Not only is the web a best friend to research, but also provides students a hands-on and different approach to learning. Blogs, video/audio clips, wikis, email, webcasts, and just technology in general gets students involved and interested in the material. It also allows them to practice the essential computer skills necessary for today's growing technological day in age. In my own experiences, I have found that teachers who are obsessed with the rules of no cellphones, ipods, or laptops in class get little respect and participation within the class room. The article on Ivory Tower by Marcellus Hall clearly outlines the need for technology in school, starting at younger ages. Basically adults attempting to get degrees late in their life don't stand a chance in college, due to their lack of computer skills. I believe technology is a great tool in educating students.1. For the teachers who oppose the need for technology in education, how can stand firm with your beliefs after seeing the difference in those educated in technology?
2. To what extent or limit should technology be used in the classroom?
3. What type of learners are the majority of students currently attending school?
2 comments:
I could tell in class these were important topic for you to talk about. I feel the same way about teachers and the respect that other students give them, the ones who are not strict towards technology generally do get more respect. I had a Principal who was such a conservative old school guy. I had no respect for the man because he was an old conservative man who could not cope with the technology change. He was so against cell phones, phones were not permitted at school almost completely. I wish I could of seen that guy listen to my music, and wonder what he thought. I love technology, it is part of our generation and It should be used in learning situations today.
I'm glad you touched on the technology issue. Teachers who take authoritarian approaches to technology (cell phones) are not earning the respect of their students in the slightest - especially since it is such an easy rule to break. I am a bit reserved about the idea of integrating student-bought technology into the classroom because students from poor families will be unnecessarily excluded from class activities. I didn't have a cell phone until my senior year of high school - if exams were administered by cell phone I would have a de facto disadvantage. I didn't have a cell phone by choice, not because of my economic status - so subsidizing a SMS device would be a waste of taxpayer money. Another example is the University of Florida Law School's rule that requires a student to own a notebook computer to gain admission. I also do not have a notebook computer and again my family is not poor. Such integrations could place an unfair burden on either taxpayers or the free will of individuals to choose what to buy (or not to buy). Apart from this, I agree with your assessment. Good summary.
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