I've been out of school for a long time now and it's hard for me to get use to the scale at which computers are being used in the classroom. Since doing my observation last semester, I've seen it used from software that teaches different subjects to the students, to smart boards, to networking with the parents in order to keep them up to speed on their child's homework. None of this was around when I was in school, but I think it's a great thing.
And like I said, it's going to take some getting use to. I don't use computers too much in my daily life besides checking my e-mail, editing music and editing video. I'm not really into social networking either, I have a Facebook account but I rarely use it. I do see the usefulness of networking on a professional level; finding out what's new in my field, communicating with students parents. So I'm going to have to learn to love technology (not that I ever hated it)
Your observations do confirm what the article and video clip say about how technology is being used in schools. What are your thoughts about the article and video clip?
ReplyDeleteHi Michael! I can definitely see how you could be overwhelmed by the surplus of technology, it seems that technology really is everywhere and new things are coming out every day. Integrating technology into schools is definitely a key to getting the youth of America comfortable and not overwhelmed with the amount of technology that is around them. I must say that I do agree with you about Facebook, I have a Facebook account as well and it is starting to become more of a choir than a fun social networking site. I enjoyed reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post professor and sorry that I didn't elaborate more. I thought the video was very inspiring, it should the possibility and more importantly, the need for a different way of educating. The article, Four Takes on Technology, discussed more specific uses of technology in the classroom. The one that I thought would be most useful to me as a music teacher, was the friends and flags program that Karen Eini wrote about. I believe that when learning about music, it is very important to listen and analyze music from all over the world, and this program would allow students to do that
ReplyDeleteHey Michael, I am also a musician and understand where you are coming from. I just graduated from Seton Hall University with my Undergraduate degree in applied voice so I get what you mean. Even in as little time as the last four years things have changed so much. I only used computers in check school updates and promote band gigs. But now if you aren’t up to date with the new technology you can be left in the dust. It too took me a while to get used to the fast changing technology of today. And I still have a ton more to learn.
ReplyDeleteHey Michael. I spend two hours trying to post a photo on my website and I still don't know how to put one on. I have figured out that links that I have do connect to my pictures but i cannot put a photo on my home page. And I do spend a lot of time with a computer. I have also just graduated with a degree in biochemistry and I had to use technology to pass my classes. I thought that it is going to be easy to create a website but it is not.
ReplyDeleteHi Michael. I must say that I do like having professors post course docs on blackboard and/or us the BB message board. Although I do find some technology, like PowerPoint, to be crutch (and it puts me to sleep in class!).
ReplyDeleteAlso it's cool to see you're studying music as I work in the music industry :) The music blog world has made it infinitely easier to access international music.