Blog Post #2

Did you Know?


Did you know? 3.0 A John Strange version and did you Know 3.0 by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod provided several statistics of how technology will be changing in the future. The rate that technology is reaching everyone is at an alarming rate. For example, according to the video 31 billion searches on google every month and 200 million on my space is just amazing information. Also technology is doubling every two years and for a student entering college the technological information will be outdated by the time the student is in their third year of college.
The video makes you realize how fast the world is changing and how fast we need to change and learn more so that we are able to keep up with the demands of the job market if we are going to be successful in our job search once we graduate college. I am amazed at the technology that we have today compared to when I was in high school. This video is just an eye opener to let me know that I will have to continue to advance in my technological experience and continue to learn.

Mr. Winkle Wakes


Mr. Winkle has been asleep for 100 years and when he finally wakes from his long slumber when he realizes the world had changed. He was amazed at the machinery he saw in a building he entered. He saw machines printing pictures and noticed how people were able to talk to each other from other areas of the world. Now he was getting sick when he witnessed all the new technology and went to the hospital. Mr. Winkle was shocked further when he noticed more technology at the hospital. Mr. Winkle then decided to leave the hospital and found himself at a school. Mr. Winkle notices the same things he remembered a hundred years ago and was comfortable there in the classroom with no technology.
I can relate to Mr. Winkles, unfortunately, because I was taught in class with not so much technology available to students. I find it a necessary part of student’s education today because it is all around us. Today we have cell phones, computers, and so many other things that are accessible for students. Its very funny that when I was in the sixth grade, my class had a field trip to the space center in Huntsville, AL and I saw a telephone that you could see the person you were having a conversation. I remember thinking that was in the future and it would never happen. I was wrong.

Importance of Creativity


Sir Ken Robinson said, “Creativity is as important as literacy”. This video was very enlightening because Sir Ken Robinson believes that all children are born artists and that children should be allowed to show their creativity without restriction from educators. He goes on to explain the hierarchy of our education system with math and language being on the top. Second, humanities and lastly art and music then drama and dance.
I fully agree with what he is saying because I know to many people who were not supported by teachers and parents on the passions of a child. I have seen the beauty in the art that my ex-brother in law painted, the clothes that were being designed by a fellow co-worker, and a man’s art that was drawn on paper napkins at McDonald’s. None of these people had the support of their families in their passion and was told you would not make money from painting, or making clothes. These dreams were killed for some but made others stronger to fight for what they believed to be their destiny. It is our job as teacher to encourage and nurture all students in their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses. Encouraging their creativity is one such task.

A Vision for the 21st Century


The main purpose of this video is to let you know that technology is useful tool in classrooms. Students easily get bored sitting still listening to lectures, memorizing text and just reading a book. Computers are a central role in our daily lives, so why shouldn’t this technology be in a child’s classroom. This is great hands on material for a student to achieve greater learning potential. We provide our children video games at an early age so we should continue to allow them to progress even higher in education with technology.
I truly wished that this technology was available when I was in school because using a computer while learning is easier and much more fun than watching teacher just standing in front of the class lecturing. I am looking forward to learning all I can in EDM 310 to continue my technology education.

Vicky Davis: Harness Your Students Digital Smarts


Vicky Davis is a teacher and IT director in a rural school in south Georgia. She teaches students how to use new software, how to blog effectively and how to be comfortable using technology. She feels that students who only use paper and pencil will not progress in the world with today’s technology. She enjoys giving her students new terminology so they are able to look up the definition. She wants her students to learn from other students all over the world gaining different perspectives from different cultures and sharing ideas.
I feel that technology will definitely need to be based on a grade level to correctly teach students and how to use a computer effectively and to teach students proper etiquette on a computer. Technology for the class room is definitely a must in all grade levels to continue to educate students for the future. I continue to learn how to use the computer in college and I’m sure I will continue to use it in the future.