Teacher to Be

Technology in the Classroom on Youtube. This post is short but I really like this movie. It is discussing how one of the dangers of allowing different technology into your classroom is misuse. Now of course we would be monitoring the students but I can remember having a laptop in year 11 and 12 and I was always playing games when the teachers wasn’t watching.

I guess the main thing we can do is monitor as much as possible.

Just for a side note, It is amazing what you can achieve with a computer and camera. imagine what our students could create.  Have a look at this video, an 11 year old boy created it. Shopin!

I found this article intriguing. It talks about newspapers and how they need to change to suit the growing needs of the digital natives. It has an interview from Rupert Murdoch. Mr Murdoch quotes from research and states : “attitudes towards newspapers are especially alarming. Only 9 percent describe us as trustworthy, a scant 8 percent find us useful, and only 4 percent of respondents think we’re entertaining” I found this interesting because I get most of my news of the internet and don’t really read the newspaper anymore. I never really thought what others were thinking when it came to newspapers.

I loved this quote “One commentator, Jeff Jarvis, puts it this way: give the people control of media, they will use it. Don’t give people control of media, and you will lose them.”  Why pay for a newspaper when you can look it up on the net. At the same time, it is kind of sad that we are going digital, you lose that era, the ones who sit down and read the newspaper with a coffee.

 The next statement I believe could easily be adapted to suit teachers. “By streamlining our operations and becoming more nimble. By changing the way we write and edit stories. By listening more intently to our readers.” So By listening to our students, Becoming quicker with the technology and changing the way we teach we can meet our digital natives.

He asks the question “What do we – a bunch of digital immigrants — need to do to be relevant to the digital natives?” 

He goes on to talk about what the digital natives want, he writes “The challenge for us is to create an internet presence that is compelling enough for users to make us their home page.” I do not think I have ever actaully activly searched out a newspaper homepaeg, usually I just write in google news today and look it up or msn just has it on their homepage. I find it interesting that newspapers think about their digital natives, I mean it is obvious now, but before I only thought about digital natives in reference to education.

sourced 22/09/2008 from http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/322112273_1fd19bade5.jpg

Their Space; Education for a digital generation

The research in this article was very interesting and thought provoking. Their reserach indicated that many ‘digital pioneers’ were blogging before we knew what blogging was.  They were building webpages, making movies, sharing their photos and music with all.

People who communicate have been given an easy life through texting, emailing and msn.

This article also reports on myths and misconceptions which included learning from digital pioneers (that is in the focus groups there was usually one person ahead of everyone), Start with people not PCs (that is schools need to respond and listen to the user, and develop strategies to mend the gap between formal and informal learning),the world has changed why haven’t we (that is just as it is stating. We need to adapt to the times.)

I found these interesting and relevant to us from the report;

1 The internet is too dangerous for children.

2 Junk culture is poisoning young people and taking over

their lives.

3 No learning happens and digital technologies are a waste

of time.

4 There is an epidemic of internet plagiarism in schools.

5 Young people are disengaged and disconnected.

6 We’re seeing the rise of a generation of passive consumers.

7 All gaming is good.

8 All children are cyberkids.

 It talks about parents needing to supervise children, talk to them, understand what they are using the internet for. OR even put a tracking system into the computer to monitor and block certain programs that they deem unsafe.

One of the most interesting aspects of the report is that students don’t always (and mostly don’t) learn from someone else. They teach themselves the technology and they explain it as the older you get the harder it is to learn. 

The report goes on to explain how schools need to incorporate different technology but also making students aware of the dangers. It is practical advice after all. All teachers should read this report. It gives many student opinions and childrens opinions. Overall it was an interesting read.  It is just another piece to this teaching puzzle we are piecing together.

Thanks to digital cameras and Facebook, a generation documents itself like never

Ok I am of the facebook era, and yes I have facebook but when I read comments like “Joelle Chow, 15, said that when she and her friends gather at her house, they sometimes do their hair and make up just to make sure they look good in the pictures they post on Facebook. ” I mean seriously how “me” in multimedia can you get. I have photos up but we do not go around for the express purpose of taking photos for my facebook.  I actually think it is fairly dangerous tool, I mean I have a friend on facebook who has photos of her two year old son and he is naked in alot of them. You tag it as nudity but nothing happens, well not yet. So what happens if some pedophile is on looking at the photos, of the two year old, the 15 year old.

Also this article talks about how people “Today, if you choose not to do Facebook in college, you have all but chosen to be a social isolate.” So if you are not using this, this makes you something that is beneath talking to. How obscene is that?

Yes facebook and my space has advantages, you can share your photos and show friends stuff, but when there are people specifically going around getting dressed up in case they get snapped for face book. It just seems plain silly. I think in moderation it is a great idea, and I use it. However, if it is monitored enough it could go awry.

Truly Madly Engaged Click here to read

The article states the core needs are music, internet and mobile devices. When I look at myself. I think about it, in my car I listen to music, have my phone ready to answer and when I get home I have to get on the internet to check if my friends had emailed me back. We are immersed into this media world, walk in the city and I dare you to go ten minutes without running into someone on the phone or someone tuned out with their mp3 player. 

It is stated in the article ” Mass market media as well as marketing messages do not appeal or deliver the emotional connections to this audience.”  I think this is because we become desensitised to all around us. We watch movies about gore and horror and we are bombarded with mass media marketing. The more we see the more we don’t really care.

 The part in the article I found most interesting is that the US lags behind when it comes to mobile phone functions. I do not know why but I assumed they along with Japan would be at the top of the list for using the new technology.  They have it but don’t use it. However, when I look at what I can do on my phone and what I actually do, it is probably very similar to people in the US.

The article asks the question which could you live without? Mobile phone, intenet and tv. ME I would choose the TV. Cause I can and am living without one for six months now. When you have the internet and a phone you can entertain yourself easily.  In High school I would have said there was no way I could live without the television. I always multitasked, I studied for my Japanese exams and watched the television and sometimes I also had music on. So yes this generation would definitly be multitaskers.

(sourced from http://www.weac.org/abbott/graphics/2006-07/513.gif)

I guess what this means for us as teachers is we need to incorporate the devices our students frequently use. Use the internet, the mobiles and even the Ipods. Make it an advantage to have it in the school instead of a disadvantage!

Listen to the natives article

I find it interesting that this article assumes that all teachers are digital immigrants. I mean I am not and there are teachers out there the same age as me teaching. However what is more interesting is that even if there are digital immigrants out there, that does not mean they are behind the students. I know many people who were not brought up with computers around and they are much better at using them then I am. It states that “Our young people generally have a much better idea of what the future is bringing than we do. ” Yes they may be using many different means of technologies, but that does not mean that they might know more. I found that on my prac students use the different technologies in their schooling and yes sometimes they know something different to the teachers but I believe that teachers know more technology (or at least they should) then the students.  I like that this article is establishing that teachers can learn with the students, can use the students prior knowledge. This is essential in all subject areas, the use of prior knowledge is a must in teaching.

This article suggest collaboration is necessary for teaching in the future. Collaboration with students is an interesting concept, in theory it sounds like a great idea. However, it seems like there could be potential risks, it would depend on the students, the school and many different factors. Students can’t always have so much independence, they do not always respond well. I think this could be tested in different schools but it would not work in all.

“Today’s students have mastered a large variety of tools that we will never master with the same level of skill. ” This quote I find ridiculous, who is to say that we wouldn’t master this device if someone taught you how to use it. Anyone can learn, so why not just have a course to teach the teachers the needs of the students.

To sum up, all I think we need from reading this article is to teach in university the needs of our students. computers, technology, how to use them, are essential to the students today.

Is it Age or IT: First steps towards understanding the NET Generation

Firstly, I had a little trouble understanding the problem with understanding the NET generation, probably because I am the NET generation. I only have a vague memory of life without internet, but I was under the age of 12 when that was the case. I think the first time I got a computer I was around the age of 9.  All the questions and comments about NET generation seems to apply to me.

I find myself lost without my phone, I am always connected one way or another. I am proud to be of the NET generation cause this makes it a little easier for me when it comes to teaching my students. Obviously they may always know something different about technology but I am always on top of learning new technologies so am not worried about their knowledge compared to mine. I understand that we as the net generation does not view technology that we have been using as technology because it just is, it is what we use to make assignments, to talk to our friends, to find information.

Within the classroom setting it only makes sense to use technologies that our students know and use everyday.  Reading this made me think about university and the fact that even though we are learning about the digital natives and the need to cater for them, why are we not being catered for then?  There is a youtube video that I found that speaks for all us NET Generations out there that I thought says it all.

A Vision of students today (Click here to watch the video)

The article Is it age… speaks about “Learning is participatory; knowing depends on practice and participation. Digital resources enable experiential learning—something in tune with Net Gen preferences. Rather than being told, Net Geners would rather construct their own learning, assembling information, tools, and frameworks from a variety of sources.” So if this is the case and we are getting taught that this is the case, shouldn’t we be learning through the methods we are being told/taught to teach.

Just something to think about.

(Image sourced August 5,2008, from; http://blaugh.com/cartoons/060901_kindergarten_wifi.gif)

A “Singularity”, the article (which can be accessed by clicking the picture above) suggests has occured in the last decade when it comes to the technological world. I think that though it suggest it happened suddenly, I believe it happened more gradually. I was on the the start of the people growing up around this ‘new’ technology. When I was ten, my dad got us a computer, cell phone e.t.c. Ever since my life has been surrounded by this ‘new’ technology. I found the terms used in this article ‘N’ Generation and ‘D’ Generation kind of different because it demeaning the generation (the only reason they are called this is because they are on the net or digital, what about the outback children, growing up without these devices.) Also the idea that people who are of a different generation aren’t of this ‘digital’ and ‘technological minded doesn’t seem right to me. I know of an 80 year old who are as good at maneuvering around the net as I can.

Within this article it talks about teachers assuming that students are exactly the same as they used to be, but what I don’t understand is how can anyone assume this? Every year different events happen in society that impacts the students life; be it technology, or weather impact or even terrorism.

I agree with the article when it mentions the need to invent but not from scratch. That the old ways can be used and developed to suit their new target. That we can incorporate technologies our students are using to teach whatever the subject.

I like the end when it says that Digital immigrant educators need to change in order to reach their students. Think about the technology and the students you will be reaching!!!

Life online: Teens and technology and the world to come link

I guess the biggest thing I noticed about reading this article was that this is me. I am a Millennial. I realise that I wouldn’t know what to do if I couldn’ t have constant access to the internet. Facebook, creating websites, blogging, this is my life. It never occurred to me that I could be under the same bracket as my students. Albeit I am sure some of my students will know more about the newer technology then I might and likewise I will know more about different technology to them.

I guess what this means for teachers is that they need to know what their students are interested in when it comes to technology. That if the students are going to use technology within the school environment, teachers will need to become tech savy in order to stay one step ahead of the students.