Technology for me is a scary thought, sure i can use the most common programs that one uses most often, and i can use the internet for searches or different things. But, apart from that i am very technologically unfriendly, i have avoided technology as much as i can, mostly because i feel that since i don't know what things mean i always seem to do something wrong. When i try to change something in my computer i always manage to delete something i am not supposed to, or click on something i shouldn't on the internet and have damaged a few computer with viruses.
Even though technology intimidates me and i try to stay away from it, once i have someone walk me through it i can learn rather quickly, which is something that helped me tremendously in my current job. I have worked at my current job all throughout my undergraduate, as the CAD Dept. Manager in a manufacturing company. My job is productive and i do like it, but it is not my passion.
I have a bachelors degree is in Biology, and a minor in chemistry. Now, i am pursuing the Masters in Biology to teach in secondary schools, because i have always enjoyed teaching and helping others learn what i already know.
As i was reading the article assigned, Grow Your Personal Learning Network by David Warlick, i was impressed that there are programs that can keep us updated when certain keywords i might be interested in are found so that i can have the capability to go straight to something that i might be interested in. That feature can be very helpful in the world of science since every day there is something new to discover, and new studies and articles with different discoveries.
Technology integration is a great new thing, I have heard of schools now where each child has their own laptop and they can follow along on it, search further for something they are interested in, or something they do not understand clearly. I remember in my college genetics class my professor used to encourage
us to bring our laptops and every once in a while during her lecture she
would stop and say some new term and ask us to Google it and explain it
back to her. I found that very encouraging because not only was it
funny when she did that, but it grabbed our attention, and allowed me to
learn more because i would find out more information when i did Google
it. I think each child having the opportunity to do this is a great idea, and a great tool not only for the student but for the teacher also. Both can learn, the student by always being able to be communicated and find new information, but for the teacher it also allows for one to communicate and interact with other teachers. I hands down agree with the Learning to Change - Change to Learn video, technology integration will allow students to be more prepared for whats to come in the job market. The job market doesn't always want a textbook answer, it is very important to be able to research the answer, synthesize it, and communicate it not just memorize a right and wrong. This is an important change because while the world has taken giant steps toward being more technologically advanced, most classrooms still shut it out, which should not be there should be more of an integration between the two worlds.
Google it - now a command. That is funny. But how different is that from "ask your teacher or some other adult? The power of creating content and sharing it so that you become part of the circle of resources (or PLN). I recently put up crown molding in my home. I read through some books and looked at the pictures but I still could not understand it enough to have the courage to begin. I "googled it" and watched several different videos and watched them several times as I began the process. This immediate access to learning when I need it is powerful.
ReplyDeleteYour opening paragraph made me giggle a bit. But obviously you did not let your technology frustrations get you down! It reminds me of my coworker who sits in the cubicle beside me, and whenever she wants to show me something on her screen she motions for me to look over. Each time as she turns the screen, the whole monitor goes black. Or sometimes she will call me over, frustrated because she somehow turned her entire excel spreadsheets upside down and cannot figure out how to undo it. Always laughing, she often says that she is a technology clutz.
ReplyDeleteBut as you said, once you learn a technology, you are comfortable with it and embrace it and that speaks volumes to your ability to adapt and take on something new. I think about all the kids who might sit down in your classroom feeling like science is too hard, or that they are not smart enough to learn it so why pay attention. And as their teacher you can think back to the times when you were reluctant, like in learning new technologies, but discovered that you we more than successful at building a ‘friendly’ relationship with it.
You mention hearing about schools where every child has their own lap top....The whole issue of technology integration also brings up the issue of socio-economic factors and how they might affect learning. Do the districts and/or schools that can afford more technology integration have a better learning environment? The plus side of rapidly changing technology is that things that were once prohibitively expensive, ie. computers for every student, are rapidly becoming more accessible.
ReplyDeleteWhen i mentioned about schools where each child has a laptop to use, socioeconomic roles did not come into play because the schools provides them.
ReplyDeleteThat did start in more affluent towns such as River Dale where it is not in full effect because they do have a lot of parent support, but schools in less prominent areas are working towards having programs where this would happen. Passaic who does not have a lot of parental support toward the school, is working on getting grants and such based on the ideas River Dale had, which in my opinion will sort of balance out the socioeconomic boundaries that some children might have when it comes to this.