Computer Literate Kids and Podcasts

Media Literacy and Little Kids Big Potential

These kids are amazing. They know so much more about computers than I do. Before EDM 310 I only used a computer to write papers, do some research, and use facebook. I never blogged much less read other people's blog. These kids are in first grade and are already using these tools. They are way more advanced than I. I know technology is more accessible to students today than it was when i was in elementary, but Mrs Kassidy is using the resources she has to its full potential.

i phone used by one year old

Wow! This is unbelievable. The kid can hardly talk, but he knows how to use an iphone. This next generation is going to so far more advanced than my generation. We as teachers need to learn that this generation is going to be dependent on technology, and as their teachers we need to adapt to their ways of learning. Children learn so much faster visually than audibly. So why do so many teachers just lecture? Teachers need to be hands on for the student to reach the highest capability.

Podcasts

Personally I do not like podcast. The reason being I am a visual person and I will get distracted if I don't have anything to look at. I find myself listening then all of a sudden my mind has wandered and ten minutes later I have no idea what I just heard.

I enjoyed a few of the podcast and others I didn't. The kidcast podcast I enjoyed. It was very informative about video podcasting. I personally like the video podcast because I can see someone or something. This was interesting and therefor a could pay attention a little bit. The reasons he gave for choosing a podcast made some sense. I did not like This Week in Photography. They were not professional about the topic they were speaking of and they had to many jokes or comments that were racist. I would have to disagree that photography is not racist. The smartboard lesson was informative but I lost interest because the speaker was kind of monotone and boring.

In the podcast I make I want to be informative, but not boring. I want to keep my audiences attention, but be serious about the topic. Too many jokes can be over the top, but a monotone serious speaker will put you to sleep in a heartbeat.

Technology Today

A Vision of Students Today

I have some of the same experiences as these students had, but not all of them. My college years started at a junior college. The largest class I had was about 35 and all my teachers knew not only my name but what kind of person I am. Since I have transfered to South Alabama I have had only one class larger than 40 and that is the only teacher that didn't know my name.

I do relate to these students in the aspect of managing my time though. I did play baseball in junior college and that in itself is like a full time job, therefore I didn't have much free time after I did all my school work. Most of my free time was spent sleeping. Now that I'm at south I still have to manage my time wisely. My day starts with class at 8 a.m. and ends with work at 7 or 8 p.m. five days a week. Not to mention I still have homework to do, so I do not have much free time.

It's Not About Technology

Mrs Hines hit the nail on the head when she says teachers are to be learners. How can students be expected to learn from the teacher if the teacher can not lean from his/her students. From personal experience when I can show a teacher something, and he/she listens and understands it shows me they care about me and I'm more willing to listen to what he/she has to say. If a teacher doesn't pay me any attention I am more likely not to listen to him/her. It shows they do not care about their students and are teaching just for a paycheck.

I also agree with Mrs Hines that teachers do not have to be technological for the students to be successful in the classroom. For example if a teacher doesn't know how to use a smart board don't use it. Half the class time will be spent figuring the smart board out. Teachers can be effective without technology. The secret is to show the students that you do care for them and listen to what they have to say. If you show them respect they are more than likely to show you respect, and learning will become enjoyable for the student.

Is It ok to Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher

My first question to this blog is what is technologically illiterate. If that means a person can not open a web page or send an e-mail than I agree with Mr. Fisch post, but if it means for a teacher to know how to use something like blackboard than I will have to disagree with Mr. Fisch. I do understand the point he is trying to make that people are proud by not knowing computers. I would say that people are not proud, but that they are just scared to learn and they act proud so people can not see their fear.

I disagree with Mr. Fisch when he compares the importance of reading with the importance of computer literacy. Yes, technology is important, but not as important with reading and writing. All teachers should know how to do the basics technological things like e-mail, word processing, power point, ect, but I would say some things are not that important for them to learn.

Gary Hayes' Social Media Count

This is amazing at how many people are using technology at every second of every day. Sometimes I forget that the whole world isn't in the central time zone, and have the same sleep pattern as I do. The world is constantly going, and it never stops. People are becoming more and more technologically advanced every day. I will admit I'm not caught up in all the gadgets of today, but sometimes I think these can be a distraction for some people. I do not want to be that person who has internet or some kind of application on my phone and never puts it down. These can become addictions just like drugs and alcohol. When I go out with friends that have an iphone they are playing with it for the whole time we are together. That is ridiculous. Yes technology is good if used in the right way but it also can become an addiction.

Responses to videos

Did You Know

Wow! I always knew technology has come a long way during my twenty year old life, but when I saw this video it it blew me away. I never realized how much technology effects the world. India has more honor students than all american students. I always thought America is the most technological advanced country but to hear the United States in 19 in the world in broadband internet blows me away. China and India are way ahead of the United States. I now have somewhat of a grasp on how many people technology effects.

We have come so far in technology just in the past five years. Google searches increased by around 30 billion since 2006. This shows the amount of people using computers these days. Technology is being used for virtually everything today even to find a marriage partner. Information is available at our finger tips at all times, whether it be by computer or phones which have the web on them. Technology is moving too fast for us too even keep up with. For example this video said students are preparing for jobs and problems that do not even exist now. We have to be an adapting culture today so that we can stay on top of things in our life.

Mr Winkle Wakes

Mr. Winkle wakes after 100 years, and finds the world is not the same way it used to be. He discovers these devices,computers, that have so much information on them and someone can talk to you all the way across the world. He visits a hospital and sees all these devices used to save the lives of people. Mr. Winkle comes across a school, and he finds that the schools are exactly the same as they were 100 years ago and becomes very comfortable there.

This video is a great example that shows how education has been left behind in a world surrounded by technology. It truly doesn't make sense why technology is not used in the classroom. Schools are supposed to prepare students and give them knowledge and skills so they may in turn get the jobs most desired. These most desired jobs usually require a vast knowledge of technology. Yes students still need to learn how to read, write, and add, but the approach to teaching needs to change. Children are more interested in playing a video game than reading, so why not bring this kind of technology into the classroom to make students interested in learning.

Creativity in Schools

Ken Robenstine makes a strong point that the educational system looks down upon the arts because you can get a job being good at dance or art. Students today are simply being told what they should do with their lives instead of being encouraged to do what they want to do. I never realized until Ken Robestine that the arts in public schools either don't exist or they aren't properly funded. There has become a prejudice attitude within the school systems toward the fine arts, and this is effecting not only the creativity of students but the happiness of students. In high school I looked forward to attending my art class because it gave me a break from the world and allowed me to relax in an environment where relaxation does not exist.

I particularly enjoyed when Ken Robestine talked about all students having degrees. I went to a college prep high school and was pushed to go to college and get a degree. The military and trade schools were looked down upon. I did not understand why they were looked down upon though. Today there are too many people getting degrees and not enough jobs for those with a degree. Having a specific trade today has become a high demand, and jobs are easily found. If everyone went to college than who would come fix your air condition or if your car broke down who would fix it. No one could fix it. So people are not meant to go to school and should not be looked down upon if they don't. Education is being pushed too hard and it is ruining not only the creativity but it is ruining the way in how the world functions.

Harness Your Students' Digital Thoughts

Vicki Davis' classroom is what classrooms should look like today. She is connecting with the students more by using the technology that is available to them. I like when she said some students don't learn on paper because I am that kind of person. I am a visual learner and would much rather someone show me rather than tell me.

This digital classroom makes learning more fun and enjoyable. I particularly would enjoy being in a classroom that could communicate with someone from the other side of the world. For example if I was in a history class and was learning about another country, to be able to talk with someone from that country would give me a better understanding. This would also allow me to be able to pay attention more rather than sitting in a lecture listening to the same monotone teacher everyday.