week 14 synthesis

well, I have to say that my paper is not coming along at all - I'm freaking out a little.  I know it's my fault I've just had a VERY full week - I sold my house and bought a new one, my grandmother passed away and my daughters senior prom!  I now have to try and pack and move in the next 3 weeks from a 3000 sq foot house to a 1200 sq foot house - yes I'm downsizing!!!  I'm just saying a little prayer that I get it all done!!!!  I can't wait for this sememter to be over!!!

So for our final paper - can anyone shed any light on do we HAVE to turn in a draft this week or can we just turn in the paper the next.  Also, if we can't use powerpoint for the presentation what is everyone using?  I'm not familiar with Prezi

first week of production on paper

I've search internet and Ebsco looking for information on my subject, but unfortuenatley it all seems to be the same information.  I am very worried there is no way I"m going to get 5,000 words, but I'm learning something about film editing LOL

My conclusion this week

Well, I have to say I'm just confused and believe that a participatory class is just not my style- I've done well in the classes that used the discussion boards, but this blog is so hard for me to keep everyone's comments straight and then many times my comments wouldn't post, it's just been frustrating!! I believe that I am up to date on my blogs by looking the syllabus, but then by seeing what everyone else has posted I think I might have skipped a week by accident.  I hate not knowing where I stand in the class, and know there is no way I'm going to get 20 pages on my papers subject.  It's a paper about a film director that came up with editing ideas for film - what does this have to to with educational technology I have yet to find anything - I'm just hoping I at least pass this class!

week 13 synthesis

Think just about everyone is agreeing on the Jenkins book - wouldn't it be great to have free internet!  I think we should get a petition going LOL  I still feel - and many do as well - that although the basics of math, reading, and writing are so important and must be learned for further growth, technology skills as well need to be taught so they can be able to  assimilate into society easier in their future.  Even if they only go to work at  McDonalds so many of the machines they use are like computers so must know some skills so they can operate the machines!

Week 13

The children that are in the elementary school right now, will be immersed into a world of new and miraculous technology when they graduate from high school.  For this reason, we must expose/teach these kids about the media and how to use technology to their advantage.  What I see now from my own kids is communiction via texts, facebook, twitter, instagram and so much more, it seems to me that if they do not understand the basics of these programs and how to use them they will be lost as adults and unable to function in society.  I also think about the future of education - take our class for example - it has been completely via blogs and a few podcasts that's it!  Is this the future of college?  will most classes be given via the internet?  I think they will and our students need to understand how to operate computers and their programs so they will be able to participate in these classes and gain the knowledge they seek.  So, yes we definately need to our students at least the basics when it comes to media literacy so they can succeed in the future and become successful citizens.

Jenkins Synthesis first readings

This has been an easier and more interesting read, which I think everyone is agree to.  I think we all agree that the school systems need to get more on board with the advancement of technology equipment, but do they have the funds.  I am sure many school systems in the bigger cities do, and I often wonder if my special ed department is just full of it when they tell me there isn't even money to purchase my kids a couple of sets of headphone - I mean really?!  I guess that's where our creativity and imagination comes into play, as well as our own money HAHA

Jenkins

First of all sorry for the delay on this post, my computer crashed, I've been on Spring Break this week so couldn't use my school computer so had to wait for my son to come in today and bring me his to use.

I feel that the internet and technology is being taken over by the teen population.  They live on their iphones, computers, or anything it seems that is electronic.  I am often amazed at what my students can teach me on how to not only operated a computer when I've hit a snag, but websites and such that can make my life a little bit better.  Websites that can site for more, make graphs, research and more.  These kids brains seem to wired for technology, unlike mine!  They are amazing when it come to videos, music creations, digital imaging.  I think that these concepts can so easily be incorporated into the classroom to help them and their classmates learn.  My daughter loves her digital media class at school, I amazed at the artwork she has made by only using the computer.  What scares me, well not really scares me, but makes my brain hurt, is the speed at which technology is increasing changing!  I just can't keep up with it, nor do I beleive many school districts can.  With funding increasingly deminishing many computer and equipment that crashes or gets broken is not being replaces - at least that is how it is in my district.  I used to have 4 computers I am now down to one and am told there are none to give me to replace those that have crashed.  How does this help my students?  well it doesn't!  The one I have is extremely old and outdated and many programs won't even run on it.  I would love to have technology to used with my kids, but as for now I just have to rely on the old fashion way of therpay LOL!

Cuban Chapter 4 Synthesis

While reading the blogs I feel that most believe that computers are important in the the classroom, but how we use them to teach our children is more important.  Computers are wonderful and can transport the kids all over the world, but they must have guidance and direction from the teacher in order for the computer work to be truly effective in learning.  Some feel that computers are not all they are cracked up to be and should not be used often in the classroom, but when your evaluation includes a section for "use of technology" and you are marked off if you don't use technology during your evaluation, you are reminded that those higher up expect you to use technology even if it's not relevant - well, at least that's my opinion.  So, computers are good, it's just we have to know what we are doing and be able to guide the kids in the right direction for it to be truly an educational experience.

Cuban Chapter 4

I think that computers will help enhance education if the teachers will just open up to the fact that they must learn knew ways of teaching.  I've read a few other posts, and I think we all agree that the older teachers that have been around for a few years are reluctant to try new things and/or ask for help from the younger ones to show them how.  I wonder if the older teachers feel that by asking for help it might show a lack of intelligence on their part, but in reality it shows a lack of intelligence by not asking for help.

Another issue is not only the lack of training from our schools, but the inability to purchase the new equipment because of lack of funding.  I am a speech therapist and wanted a SmartBoard like everyone else in the building so for 2 years I asked for one and finally got it.  Although it took almost another year for maintenance to come and hang it in my room, when all was finished I looked forward to playing with it and figuring it out, however, something was missing.  They had found me a board, but there was no money to buy me a projector so I still couldn't use it!!!  So there it still hangs, useless on my wall for the past 4 years - what a waste and misuse of funds!!!

can't respond to posts either

to sjames123teach - I tried as well to respond to your post but couldn't :0(  I even tried to log in and it wouldn't let me log in - computers are wonderful when they work, but when something doesn't I get so frustrated!!!

Cuban Chapter 3 Synthesis

I think everyone is agreeing that those who have been in the profession for a while are just scared of the technology today and reluctant to try and use it.  We try and get them on board, but with those I deal with they feel that they are too close to retirement so why change now.  I find new teachers that are coming into the system amazing at times with what they can do with technology, and how much the kids love it!  I think that we need to learn technology in order to keep up with what are students know and with what keeps their attention.  We need to keep up with what and how our kids are learning these days, not just in school, but outside the school building as well

Cuban Chapter 3

As Cuban stated in the book reasons teachers do not use technology in the classroom, I too see this way too often.  I have been taking technology classes for the past year and 1/2 I have have tried to get my fellow speech therapist to use some in therapy sessions as well with success just recently.  Many teachers have been teaching for so long that they do not like change and feel their way has been working for years (or so they think) so they are not going to change a good thing.  I hate to say it, but these teachers just need to go ahead and retire and let those with new ideas and the gumption to use these ideas a chance to teach.  I have used technology in the my therapy sessions for years, and up until recently many of the therapist that had been in the school system thought I was just being lazy and not wanting to work with the students.  However, several have left the system and with new blood comes new ideas.  Last year the special ed department bought us iPads to use in therapy, and although they would not give us any money to purchase apps (go figure LOL) we have found many free or really cheap ones to use with our kids not only in articulation therapy but language as well - they beg to use the iPad and I have been seen improvement withmany of the kids.

Cuban Chapter 1 & 2 synthesis

It does seem that this book will be easier to read.  It was interesting to think back to when I was a kid in school and how amazing I thought watching film strips were in class.  I loved it when the teacher got the film strips out and just thought it was an amazing way to learn.  Now look what we have - streaming videos, live feed from different zoos, NASA and the like.  I just wonder what and how my grandchildren will learn in school in the next 15 years or so - holigrams?

Cuban Chapters 1 -4

I really enjoyed reading about how film and the radio used to be used in the classroom.  Just think, back then filmstrips were thought of as such an advancement and today we just through them in the trash!  I remember when I was in elementary (not saying how long ago that was LOL) but I LOVED watching filmstrips in the classroom!  I thought they made learning so much better - turn the handle when the bell dings for you to go to the next picture LOL.  Now -a- days we can have the children make their own videos to share with the classroom in a matter of hours - how far we have come!

When it comes to using television in the classroom, I have to say I'm up and down on that issue.  I do still beleive that some shows such as The Electric Company and School House Rock can be helpful to students, but I don't even know for sure if these are around still.  I do see, however, that way too many teachers use the television as babysitters for the classrooms at time - well this is in the school I used to work at I don't want to pigeon hole all teachers into this thought.  This book seems that I might interesting and a little bit more enjoyable to read than Postman for sure!

Bibliography Synthesis

This was the first time I had seen a bibliography like this - unlike some of my fellow students - and I have to say it was rather enjoyable.  I have enjoyed this book much better than Postman for the reason that I'm just a history buff and enjoy reading about that subject.  I'm looking forward to the Cuban book and hoping it will be intriguing.

Bibliography Essay

I think it's nice that Hughes did this biblographic essay.  It let's us know how he came about his ideas and where they developed from.  It's not often that we as readers are given this much insight into an authors tinkering mind.  It seems that very every important aspect of his book he gives us the background of where he began to develope his ideas and thoughts on the subject.  I enjoy reading about the history of technology and aspects of it, more so than the Postman book, and the bibliography was an interesting addition that gave me a little more understand of Hughes and his thinking.

week 6 synthesis

I'm trying to remember to post my synthesis on Saturdays, but I keep forgetting!  I'll get better I promise LOL!
If everyone has to work together for technology to be productive - that will never happen.  I think that in the school system there are so many teachers that have been around for so long and have done things their way for years, they are just not willing to change.  I hear teachers all the time say they just don't understand this technology stuff, and some that never get on the computer unless they truly have to for grades and such.  We all have to be on board in the schools in order to keep our children up to date with new advances so they can compete with others in the job fields when they get older.

Hughes Chapters 4 - 6 week 6

Hughes Chapters 4 – 6 week 6

Hughes states in chapter 4 on page 107 he is talking about Bill Gates and some things Gates said in particular how education and the workplace will be transformed beyond believe because of technology. Boy, how things are changing!  The school systems are trying to keep up with the Jones’s per se, but because of the lack of funding it is hard to.

When I talk about technology in the school I always think about my attempt to get a Smart Board in my classroom.  I’m a speech therapist, so naturally I was last on the list to be considered for one when all the teachers in the building got theirs.  Well, after 2 years of asking for one, they finally came from central office to put it in my room.  I was so excited to get started and share all this new and fun technology with my kids, but I soon realized that there was one kink in my sudden burst of enthusiasm.  Though they got me a Smart Board, they didn’t have the money to buy me a projector for it, so I would have to wait on that.  Well, needless to say that was about 3 years ago and there is still no projector in the room.  You just gotta love the school system and their thinking!

I enjoyed reading in chapter 5 about the idea of technology and art.  My daughter has always loved to dabble in art, but was always to critical of herself thinking it just wasn’t good enough.  I always tell her art is different to all that behold it nothing is not good enough.  Now with technology she has discovered a new avenue to express herself, and post her creations on tumbler (another social site I’m just not to familiar with)  In the book it talks about how architects, machinist, and artists all work together to improve industrial design.  I can see why they would all work together, because they all could take away knowledge from the other that improves their specific discipline.  Today technology helps all three of these disciplines, I feel, move into areas they might not of ever felt possible.  For example, in architecture, with computer programs they can calculate what type of material they might need to build something to withstand an earthquake, to what degree might they be able to bend steel or some other material to get the desired look of a building they want.  Artists now can get their work noticed over the internet in minutes to millions of people all over the world. 

Hughes 1 -3 synthesis

What am I learning this week?  I'm confusing myself completely with these blogs!  I realized I have two for some reason and I'm confused as to have I posted - where is my post.  I thought I had already posted my synthesis, but obviously not - so remember to hit the publish button!  I feel that some believe that Hughes is comparing technology to God, but I think it's more just the history of how people felt/believed back then.  They believe that everything good came from God, so since technology is good it must have came from God and bringing us into a new utopia - Garden of Eden.  I don't think technology will actually bring about utopia, more so many problems and issues in the future - sometimes if it seems to good to be true it usually is.

Hughes Chapters 1 -3

I'm enjoying this book much more than Postman - I love history and have enjoyed reading about technology in the past.  Of course, it has not been the technology I once thought of - mills, farming, factories those all were the first technology.  I was also astounding to see that the first time the word technology was used was in 1831, and the first journal for technology wa sin 1959.  I think that with all the advances in technology such as the ereaders, iPads, computers, ect, I forget what the first technology was such as the printing press and the first light bulb.  Boy! we have come a long way!

Dr. Lowell stated in one of his postcasts that Hughes compares technology to God in this book.  I don't necessarily think that he is comparing technology to God, I believe he is just stating facts that years ago people such as the Pilgrams and Indians had such a faith in God that they felt everything they had was a gift from God.  I will try to explain myself a little better, but the way my mind rambles I can't promise any clarity will come about from it!  In the 16th century earlier and later in years people had a strong faith in God.  If their crops needed rain they prayed and if it rained God brought the rain.  I believe that every advancement they made from farming tools to household tools were inspired and granted to them from God.  However, if you sit down and really think about it, God gave the people that invented these items the wisdom to do so therefore they really did come from God in a way.  So, if I have made any sense at all I think Hughes is giving us a good history lesson then comparing technology to God

week synthesis

Have to admit that I'm looking forward to starting our new book!  I'm ready to move on from Postman LOL
Not only from this last week's reading, but from the whole book I've learn a couple of points that I need to work on to help me understand myself and technology better.  I still am trying to look at things differently after grasping the idea that EVERYTHING is technology - our classrooms, tables, books, and possibly even myself.  Maybe it's my age that keeps me muddling this thought over in my head - I didn't grow up with computers, MP3's and the such so, I don't know, I just see these type of items as technology because that has been what it has been called since these type of items since they started coming out.  I also want to make sure that I don't box a child into what they are capable of doing by a number.  I believe that I didn't do this at the beginning of my career, but as time has gone on it seems that that is ALL those high above are worried about, so I too focus on numbers.  It is a shame to limit kids by numbers.

week 4

I think these pas few weeks I am started to learn that things are just not what they might seem to be.  I need to not be so stringent in my thinking and step out of the box every now and then.  When Postman talks about IQ's, statistics, numbers, I started thinking about how much our lifes are ruled by numbers.  We place kids in prgrams - gifted/special ed - based on a number, my daughter is going to college this year and what school she gets into and if she might get scholarship money will be based on a number.  Do these numbers truly show if she can or cannot do the work?  No, although her ACT score is good, she can still get to college and bomb!  My son got a terrible score and the school counselor even told him that he wouldn't be accepted into college because of his low score, however, he is in his second year of grad school so what did that number show?  nothing!  Our jobs depend on numbers - test scores, productivity, ect, but these scores don't give an actual pictures of what many of he kids can do.  They have test anxiety, they come to school hungry and tired, or they listened to their parents fight all night so how in the world could we expect these scores to truly show what the kids are capable of.  Are some of the scores a true picture?  sure, but not all of them and we need to stop taking everything we read or hear as gospel.  I like the idea that maybe this whole book that Postman has written has been like a huge hoax!  What a great thought - it could be - the scary thing is is that there are many like me that since I was told to read this book by a professor, and I consider it a textbook it has to be the truth right?  I've been trained not to question those in authority it is hard for me to change my twisted way of thinking .....but I'm trying

week 3 synthesis

I am learning that I shouldn't take everything so matter of factly.  After reading Dr. Lowell's comment to my previous post I felt upset with myself for being so judgemental.  Times have changed, and what we once saw as filling our minds with usless information - such as video games - needs to be looked at as possibly filling the mind with useful information.  We might not want to admit it, but the future is computers and technology as such.  These children are leanring how to operate systems and expanding their imagination that could possibly create some life saving machine.  Many, including myself, might have seen these children as lazy individuals wasting their time on video games ect, but I need to broaden my mind and see that they are learning as well, learning the mechanics of the future.

Week 3

There are so many different cultures in this world, not only different countries but different sections of the US and breaking it down even further into our own towns.  However, these days its funny that no matter where you are you can see people on their phones texting, listen to music via their iPods  or on laptops - technology is everywhere no matter how affluent or poverished the culture is!! On page 60 Postman says "But the genie that came out of the bottle proclaiming that information was the new god of culture was a deceiver."  I have to agree with this statement.  Although technology is good in so many ways, I feel that it has also disavantaged our society in many ways.  I think of young children who just sit on the couch playing video games and immerse themselves in these fantasy worlds insteach of moving and intereacting with real people.  Many have become obese and I think have lost touch with reality.  I realize their parents are a big part of allowing them to do this, but if their wasn't any video games ect they would have to find another way to get the children out of their hair.  Yes, the internet has given our students/children so many wonderful experiences such as being able to learn about other cultures via interactive webcams, live video cameras, and interactive books, but quite too often it is not used for such, it is more than often used for fun and pleasure which is leading us to a culture of laziness and the need for instant gratification - I know I loose my patience quite often when looking for something on the internet - I want it at my fingertips!!

Week 2 Synthesis

I have to admit that this week I really feel that I haven't learned much.  Frankly, this blog thing confuses me.  I am having a hard time trying to figure out which ones are posts and which ones are comments and what in the world am I supposed to comment on!  I have the reader set up and added everyones initial blog and then their comment address as well, but it's just getting all jumbled. Unfortunately I'd say my confusion is because of my age - I didn't grow up with computers, and although I feel that I am a little tech savy, I beleive that I might just be fooling myself!  So what have I learned this week?  I'm old and easily confused LOL!  My goal this week is to get this thing straightened out so the rest of the semester will go somewhat smoothly.

Week 2

First of all I am going to apologize ahead of time for rambling on, I seem to do that alot, and I've been a little confused with the reading so when I'm writing down my thoughts they often just do not make sense!  Oh well, here goes nothing ........
After reading the chapters and listening to Dr. Lowell's podcasts, I am trying to wrap my mind around that it seems everything around is can be considered technology.  I always think of technology as computers, video phones, or really those items that can connect us to others.  I've never thought of the classroom as technology and definately not speech or writing.  However, as I previously said I thought of technology as items that connect us to others and isn't that what speech and writing does?  connect us to others?  So I am starting to expand my ideas on technology.  Postman also speaks of the good and bad of technology and I have always thought that everything about technology wasn't as wonderful as they made it out to be.  I think of our loss of privacy in using computers and connecting to the WWW.  How many times have I been hacked into in Facebook, or the tonz of spam eamils trying to elicite my personnel information, and let's face it, you know the government can follow everything we do on here - they might even be reading this post LOL!  Yes, I do sound a little paranoid!  There is a flipside to every coin, and so it is with technology.  Look at history - as factories become more streamlined with technology people lost their jobs, guns not only help feed the pioneers, but killed many of them as well.
I am having a time pushing myself through these first few chapters, and I hope the rest will not be so hard to grasp, I just think he is a negative writer.  On page 11 at the top of the page he talks about teaching children how to use computers, but not teaching what is really important and if I am to understand this correctly he is calling teachers losers for this.  I think that kids do need to know how to use the computer because that is what this world is moving towards and everything will be accessed through some type of technology.  So are we losers?  I don't think so we are trying to get them ready for society in the future.  Yes, there are the basic reading, writing, and arithmatic that they need to know, but let's face it, if they can't opperate a computer they will usless in the future society.  Well, my rambling is done for today - I'm going to go and try to figure Mr. Postman out a little bit more :0)

Technology and the classroom

Looking at all the different technology that we will be using for this class, it makes my head spin a little when I think about incorporating it all into the classroom.  See, I'm a speech therapist, therefore my therapy sessions are not necessary considered a classroom - well in my eyes that is.  However, I have been using the iPad and different computer software in my sessions for a while now and the kids love it.  I think they enjoy the animations and interactoin of the technology more so than just working with paper and pencil.  I have used a feed reader and blog before for other classes, but just didn't keep up with them after the class, but I think the feed reader is something that I do need to continue to use to keep up with what is going on in the world and new therapy ideas.  I bought my daugther an ereader for Christmas and she loves it so much that I am thinking about getting me one.  I do like the idea of instant gratification of a book to read when I want it - it just amazes me how advanced we are becoming in this world  - will library become nonexistant in the future?  My science fiction mind tells me they will.

Technology, Education, and culture how do they relate to each other?

When pondering this question, my first thought is that technology and culture drive our education.  The technology our kids our using these days has advance so far beyond what I ever thought possible, and many of the ways I might use to teach - as well as others my age - just does not grab their attention anymore.  They are so use to gadets giving them instant information and satisfaction that we must incorporate some of this new technology into our lessons or else we will loose them.  I am a speech therapist in the schools, and although my lessons are not the same as a classroom teacher, I have also found that incorporating some type of technology into my sessions engages the students better.  For example, I often use flash cards for drill and practice of particular misarticlated sounds.  I have an iPad at work and have purchased a flashcard app this is almost identical to the hand held deck I usually use.  However, I have found that when I use the iPad for drill and practice the students are more engaged in practicing their sounds and enjoy the sessions more.  I often think that they enjoy using equipment that many of their friends do not have, and learning how to operate it intrigues them.  I would love to has a Smart Board in my room since there are some many wonderful applications you could use to enhance lessons, but at last, I'm just a lowly speech therapist and those high above do see fit to grant me this wish - they don't feel it is practical for therapy :0(