In reading Stahl and Aronica’s column on Digital text in the Classroom it is clear that there is yet another use for technology beyond your everyday classroom. The concept of digital text is basically literature in its printed form that has been converted into a different form to suit specific needs. This is primarily focussed on use with disabled students for example audio readings and brail translations for visually impared individuals. An interesting point is put forward explaining that there is a rising awareness among various parties involved in schools that curricular materials are needed to meet the needs of an increaingly varying student population. This means that teachers with special needs students will need to get or create more resources to cater for the needs in their classroom, but this seems to be a relatively new concept as there has apparently been little support for these special needs in the past. This is a challenge for teachers and as Stahl and Aronica explain, support is available to those who need it.
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In reading Ntiedo Etuk’s Educational Gaming – from Edutainment to Bona Fide 21st-century Teaching Tool I have discovered some interesting ideas about the value of video games to education. This article argues that video games achieve something that education rarely does achieve but should always do so. Education should consistently engage students, encourage a trail and error mentality where it is ok to get things wrong occasionally and motivate students to master the knowledge. But unfortunately this is not the case in schools, and the truth is it is unlikely that education in its entirety will ever get such a response from students. However, regardless of this, we as teacher should strive to get their anyway. This article has some very interesting notions about the value of video games, but it will be hard to break the common parental opinion that video games are distracting, a social barrier and a bad alternative to physical activity and sports.
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In reading Clair’s Blog about Technology Curriculum Integration i found it very comforting to know that this resource is available for teachers to use. Clair’s response to this resource is very positive. Also, her down to earth way of telling us about the page encourages you to have a look yourself. I agreee with Clair in saying that this website will be a beneficial addition to any teachers resource collection. I am certain i will be using it during my teacher career.
I have just read Emma’s Blog on the article The Six C’s of Motivation. Emma has expressed her ideas clearly and has given good reasons to back up the praises she has for the article. I also agree with the article and with Emma in saying that children should be given tasks in which they have the opportunity to take control and have ownership over what they are doing. These kinds of tasks build independent thinkers and leadership skills essential for the development of our children. This blog has an overall positive feel which is refreshing for any reader.
I have just read a constructionist article by Idit Harel, Sand Castles go Digital. The main point of the article is to get across the idea that children ”learn best when they are in the active roles of designer and constructor.” This is communicated using the building of sand castles as an illustration.
Harel explains that when building sand castles on the beach with children, they are in a mental frame where they are open to learning information about the environment around them, and this is should be taken advantage of by parents as they can ‘seize the moment’ and chat about oceans with the child.
Harel also points out one major flaw with this situation. Sand castles are not permanent, the waves will wash them away within the following 24 hours, therefore the creation of online situations that reflect these kinds of experiences has been created. This way children can build on previous projects such as sand castle building, instead of having to start all over again. This means that the knowledge the children acquire in the process can be built upon in in the process.
I like the ideas that Harel puts forward. I’m not sure I’m totally convinced that I see the full value of these new developments but they seem logical and somewhat useful.
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I have just read an external blog by Carla j. Campbell about the various technological tools available for use in classrooms. She is correct in informing us that there are many ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. It is a trend that seems to be spreading for obvious reasons. However I feel that Carla’s post is short and lacks real substance in putting forward her ideas. Most of all I agree whole-heartedly with her in saying that it is the content being taught that deserves the focus because it is the content that needs to be communicated to the student and assessed, not the method by which it was given.
I have just read Jason’s post on the article ‘Students now have to earn uni places’. Jason makes a very good point in that students should be admitted into uni because they have earned their way, not because they have the money to buy their way in. It frustrates me how money focused the world is. I’d never even thought of the irony that the people who are making us uni students pay thousands for our education probably never had to pay for their own.
I have just read Matthew Kearney’s post on the Use of Video Medium. I agree that the use of videos in education is and has been a great tool for teachers. It’s not exactly ground breaking news that videos have the ability to cover ground that cannot really be touched on in the classroom. However, the amount that they have been, and continue to be used for various purposes just goes to show the value that they hold for teachers everywhere. It is good to see that the use of video is taking on new ground aswell in the form of Digital Storytelling, as Matthew explains. I know that I’ll certainly be using videos in my teaching career.
In watching “Microsoft School of the Future”, my ideas on how much technology should be used in schools is strongly influenced… it makes the idea seem almost repulsive.
Microsoft built a “School of the Future” in Philadelphia, an extremely high-tech school to trial on a couple of hundred selected students. Each student received their own personal laptop and most aspects of the school were replaced with new techno alternatives, even the lockers.
Whilst majority of the people involved seem to have a positive attitude towards the project, including students, I cannot help but notice the obvious negatives associated with this system. The social aspect of school was diminished significantly, at lunch time students were sitting around the tables typing on their computers instead of having meaningful interaction with each other. In addition i don’t think i saw one students spending time outside or doing sports.
They claim to be aiming to create the scientists and mathematicians of the future, but all i can see being created is a population of socially retarded computer geeks, with the physical abilities to match.
