Blog Post Assignment 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

I really liked the “A Vision of Students today” video; it’s almost a mirror image of my life. Well technically, the issues that that video discusses are what mostly all college students have to deal with. We have to be a multitasked to survive the college life. For example, I am a parent who goes to school full time and work 8 hours a day. I the video a student held up a sign stating that he only get 7 hours of sleep a night, in my world I average about 8 hours of sleep per night. Free time is almost non-existence in my world.

Another interesting point about the video is that it highlighted the fact that technology can sometimes be a disadvantage for the student because they use it the wrong way when in the classroom. For example, a student who brings a laptop to class but instead of using it to take notes, the student is on facebook on the laptop. I see these kinds of things all the time in class and it’s a shame because the student is wasting time and money. All in all, the video was well made and made some good points.

"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines

I agree 100% that teachers must be perpetual learners. A teacher must learn new ways to convey the same message and expand beyond their subject area. A teacher should be able to make learning an enjoyable experience for the students and that means the teacher must be diverse. What may work for one class may not work the other class. Each student is different and each class is different so different approaches must be learned. Most importantly, one can never be too educated! In essence, there should never be a stopping point for a teacher, as society grows, the teacher must grow.

It’s very interesting that in the point that was made learning and teaching is not the same thing. Some teachers are experts on their material but are very dry when it comes to the students actually learning what they are teaching. So yes, teachers must know the difference between the two and must accept the fact that when students aren’t learning, maybe it’s not the students but the teacher’s way of teaching the subject. Likewise, technology is useless without good teachers. An effective teacher knows how to use technology to his/her advantage. On the other hand, an effective teacher will not take advantage of it or may let the technology do all the work instead of teaching, for example reading word for word from the PowerPoint.

Finally, being a 21century teacher without the technology is what all teachers in today’s world should be striving for. Some school districts are underfunded and don’t have the resources or capability to supply the classrooms with updated technology. In this case, a teacher must know how to take what is available and make it today’s material. As a result, the teacher will become and effective teacher because of her ability to relate to today’s generation of students.

Karl Fish: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher

I do not think it is extreme to compare a technology illiterate teacher of the 21st century to the equivalent of a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read or write. Teachers of the 21st century must be prepared to teach students of the 21st century. A large percentage of today’s students own personal computers and have in dept knowledge on how to use them.

A teacher who doesn’t know basic computer knowledge would become disconnected from her students because of the inability to relate. All in all, your post was excellent and very well written. I read your post as an assignment for Dr. Strange’s EDM310 class. Thank you for sharing your comments. Here is my blog http://reasetarvariesedm310.blogspot.com/

Gary Haynes Social Media Count

I think watching the social media count answers the question,”Should technology illiterate teachers be allowed to teach in the classroom?” Based on the socially media count, I think that answer has to be no. Everything we do in today’s world has some aspect of technology involved in it so as a teacher, I think it means that we have to remain up to date and up to speed on the latest technology to provide the most accurate and best learning experience for the students. A teacher who doesn’t know what an Ipad is, what blogs are, or even the knowledge of Facebook will have trouble relating to the students.