Article reactions- post for March 5th

Adopt and Adapt

This article details how technological advances have and will help our public and private schools systems; only if we let them. It details old ways of doing things, compared to the new way of doing things. Obviously, the new advances are meant to make it easier on the student and the teacher, but also over a lot more advantages to the student. Instead of talking about the Revolutionary War, a teacher can show a digital movie about it. This example shows how education can be enhanced with the use of new technologies.

One aspect of the article that I can relate to was when they talked about the digital immigrants. They pretty much stated that public schools have always been scared of new technological advances. They have never truly adapted these qualities and because of this, the school system is falling behind the eight ball of technology. I went to High School eight years ago, and we hardly did any thing involving computers; except in my CAD classes. Today, its a whole new world, and these tools can help us further our students education; but only if we as educators adopt and adapt.

Synching up with the iKid

This article starts out going over something that has feared me since I decided to become a teacher; the students over-whelming knowledge of new technology and mine lack of knowledge on the subject. That's why I was excited about this class. I wanted to better my self when it comes to new technology uses. I do not want to feel like my kids are miles over my head. I at least want to be on a level playing Field. I have already gained a lot of useful knowledge in the class that I can use in my teachings, but I know by the time I start to teach, more technological advances will be out there. So for me, its constantly an uphill battle.

I want to use my students knowledge and understanding technology to help me to relate to them more. I want to be able to use certain tools within my classes, and not look like a smuck doing it. In the history department, I have had a lot of professors who are, how do I say, OLD! And it is always amusing to me when they show a video to the class because they struggle with the concept of a VCR or DVD player. Most are extremely smart people, but the new wave VCR's give the loads of struggles. When I start teaching, I don't want to be like some of my professors. I don't want to struggle with something that everyone should be able to pick up on just because I am unfamiliar with it. "The key to teaching is keeping kids involved," says Ryan Ritz."...They like everything being electronic -- it's speaking their language." These sentences from the article speak volumes of what I want to do in my teachings. I want to keep them involved, and using some new tools of technology will help me do that. I hope!