Class was a lot about us learning from each other. We started by watching three digital domain reviews presented by our peers. The first was on the Total War suite of games and how they might have relevance to a history class. I was surprised to learn that these games are very detailed and historically accurate. One can not only replicate historic battles and change conditions, but one can travel through important cities and villages to see architecture and layout. I thought the battle scenes were impressive, showing hundreds or thousands of soldiers, much more realistic to battles than I had ever in field reenactments. A teacher could use this as a way to show students how battles were fought, helping those who learn visually. It was mentioned that this game does have limitations, like that one does not get an understanding of what individuals were feeling while going to battle. The combined actions and thoughts of those who were fighting are what made the outcome of a battle or war. This game cannot simulate this and that may be due to the nature of technology, it is limited by certain factors (see blog entry for June 16). Another technology for teachers is found at www.mygradebook.com. This is a site that can help a teacher keep track of student grades. After making an account, a teacher can put assignments, student emails, and even seating charts on this program to aid them in keeping track of the paperwork side of teaching. This might be a useful site if teaching in a district that does not have a required grade book program for teachers to use, as many schools do. The security of the site was also questioned; however, it seemed the site was as secure as any popular email account would be. The final presentation was a game that could be used in a government class. It can be found at www.redistrictinggame.org. In this game, students need to redistrict areas for congressional elections. They must achieve certain goals, like having equal numbers of people represented. Students must also manipulate the number of people in the district so that certain political parties have the majority. This raises questions about the ethics behind how voting districts are determined and whether voting for a candidate is really useful or if it is already predetermined as to who will win an election, or at least who has the advantage. I think this is an interesting topic to cover with high school students who may want to feel empowered. During elections, many think their vote matters, this activity shows that it is possible that election results may be predetermined and that we may not be as empowered as we think.
The second half of the class afforded us the chance to work with a Smartboard. This was new for me and the equipment has a lot of bells and whistles to help teachers. It allows teachers to save notes that they may have written on the board even after they have been erased. The handwriting can be changed to typed text with only a push of a button. These notes could then be given to an absent student so they are sure to have all of the material. They could also be given to visually impaired students to manipulate in a way beneficial for them to study. There are also activities in the Smartboard programs that students can do to help them study. There are geography puzzles, media files, art work, and many other resources available. These would help students who learn kinesthetically. We discussed that a Smartboard really does not do anything that could not be done without it. I think it is an interesting tool that can help us reach students who learn by doing. It also allows us to make our notes more permanent. Even if Smartboards are more for convenience, I think it can be valuable in helping students to learn. After all, technology should only enhance our teaching; we must still be the ones guiding the class. Tools like Smartboard should be used to help students learn.
June 18, 2009 Class
June 16, 2009 Class
When taking a course on technology, one might have a preconceived notion that the best place to learn would be in front of a computer, or at least in a classroom with a projector and dry erase board. Our class could not be found with any of these technologies around. Instead while sitting in a circle, on imitation reed seats in the warm late spring sun, we discussed the implications of technologies on our abilities, accepted definitions, and the unique limitations of technology.
Technological developments have allowed humans to increase their abilities to think and to achieve. This was demonstrated by trying to multiply two, three digit numbers in Roman numerals. A task that, ironically, proved undoable for a class of adults working on Masters Degrees. We found that through the advent of Arabic numerals, complex mathematical computations became much easier and efficient to do. At one time this was a new technology revolutionizing our ability to do mathematics. It was mentioned that during the “big upgrade” from Roman numerals to Arabic numerals there was difficulty in understanding how math would be done, this may be similar to what we might be living through with digital technologies.
We drew upon personal experiences of how technology has impacted definitions of life we see around us. For instance, the idea of being “with” someone has changed from interacting with a person in a face-to-face way, to being in the physical presence of a person; however, not interacting with them and perhaps being on a cell phone with someone else. In personal relationships, spending time “with” one another takes on this new meaning. The door is open to being “with” someone and not being around them. Talking, texting, or instant messaging others who are miles away may be so interactive that being virtually with a person exceeds the contact that one is having with people who are only a few feet away. No longer does the definition of “with” have the same meaning as it did only ten years ago.
We also discussed the limitations that there may be to technology. Technology cannot address or affect things that we hold as uniquely personal. A fear, love, or emotion we feel cannot be depicted through technology and affect every person who experiences it the same way. We are all individuals, not to say that exposure to a culture that seeks oneness is not making us all similar. As people we must work to be as unique as possible, not in opposition of ideas of oneness; but to ensure the world is filled with many unique thinkers all viewing the world slightly differently. Innovations are made by people who see what they have a little differently. As teachers, we must be sure that we do not fall into letting technology drive our instruction. We should not make a lesson fit into a PowerPoint® just because our computers have the program. We should not use a Smartboard just because our classroom has one. Our pedagogy should not be so defined by technology that we cannot teach without it. Technology should not bind us to computers, projectors, and dry erase boards simply because we have them. We must use technology to enhance our teaching and be willing to leave our smart classrooms with the goal of better teaching and learning.
After our discussion was done we went back inside for some practical applications of word processing and using PowerPoint®. We found short written pieces and, using Microsoft Word ®, made changes and reviewed each other’s work. We added pictures and made the work publishable before turning it into a PowerPoint® slide. The slides needed to have less than five bullets with only notes on them, no complete sentences. Pictures were to be used to enhance the material. It was a beneficial activity.
June 11, 2009 Class
The implications of technology on our everyday lives is much farther reaching than I had initially thought. When viewed as any extension of ourselves that increase our capacity we realize that technology affects all aspects of our lives. Technology can have mind boggling complexity or unastounding simplicity, whether it is the extensive infastructure and programs that run the GPS units used to hep us navigate or a simple sock, cushioning and insulating our feet. Every technology that has been developed has implications for how we live our lives and our lives are the effects of our application of new and old technologies. How we use different technologies will dictate whether they are useful for the advancement of the human mind, which is one of the goals of being a teacher. Perhaps, now more than ever it is our job, no our responsibility, to be able to implement different technologies into our classroom in a useful and beneficial way for our students to advance their minds. We must be the students’ technological sock, cushioning and insulating their experiences with technology, and their GPS, guiding them to useful, successful, and rewarding experiences with these self enhancing capabilities.
First Class
Today’s class opened my eyes to my own technological inadequacies. I have a lot to learn and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge on how to integrate additional technologies into my classes in a meaningful way. I am well on my way by initiating my first blog, it has surely started out to be an interesting and informative class.
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