I have mixed emotions about this particular quote. First, I want to look at it from a student's perspective. Some students have to work really hard in order to receive good grades. If a student worked really hard on an essay and a teacher can see this, they need to be rewarded. It may not necessarily be A+ work but to the student, they are proud of it. On the other hand, let's look at it from a teacher's perspective. As a teacher, I have seen both awesome and not so awesome work. Some students, I know, can do better work than they turn in. Then, we have some students who give it all of their effort and receive only a C. The teacher should be understanding of this and consider the students' feelings.
“I’m just pleased that she reads something anymore" (Rich, 2008).
In today's society, more and more people are relying on their phone and computers for entertainment. Students are no longer reading books in their spare time. Their reading consists of reading messages on their phones from their friends. The one parent in this particular article discusses how her daughter is addicted to the internet. I agree with this quote to an extent. As a parent, I would be happy that my kid is reading something but I would be even more happy if they would spend 15-30 minutes a day reading an actual book.
When asked to discuss my view on Web Evangelist and Traditionalist, my head starts spinning in several different directions. The Web Evangelist side of me agrees that digital media is changing the way people read and write in the Digital Age. Students are learning to type better at an earlier game because of all of the technology they are using. Auto correct on computers allow students the opportunity to see their mistakes before they turn it in for grading. "Some Web evangelists say children should be evaluated for their proficiency on the Internet just as they are tested on their print reading comprehension" (Rich, 2008). The Traditionalist side of me does agree that digital media are destroying our childrens ability to read and write, to an extent. Students no longer have to use a dictionary to learn what a word means or use an encyclopedia to find information for a specific report."Young people today approach writing differently" (Karp, 2010). Instead of a student creating their own report, they may automatically go to a computer to use the Internet. Very few students brainstorm and put their ideas together.
The picture above describes my stance on digital media affecting today's youth. Just as the wind vane moves based upon the wind's direction, my opinion moves on a daily basis. Sometimes, I feel that technology is great and students really appreciate/utilize it in the classroom. On the other hand, I sometimes despise it and wish it would go away. When I am giving a presentation and students are in the back on their phones, these are times that I get discouraged.
References
Karp, J. (2010, January 01). Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writiers. Retrieved May/June, 2016, from http://spotlight.macfound.org/featured-stories/entry/does-digital-media-make-us-bad-writers
Rich, Motoko. "Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading." June-July 2008. Web. May-June 2016.
Karp, J. (2010, January 01). Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writiers. Retrieved May/June, 2016, from http://spotlight.macfound.org/featured-stories/entry/does-digital-media-make-us-bad-writers
Rich, Motoko. "Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading." June-July 2008. Web. May-June 2016.
I agree that sometimes our world is revolving too much around technology. I would be discouraged if students were using the technology in the wrong way. However, I see a lot of positive aspects of technology. Yes the internet is altering some ways that we do things, but it has many advantages. The students do look to the internet for resources, use word dictionary instead of looking it up in a paper book, or even read differently than a book you hold in your hand. I see that students are trying to look up more information instead of just not doing the assignment. I see students using a dictionary on word to look up a definition instead of using the word without knowing because looking it up in a real book takes too long. My students at least read something online, which is more than they would do without it. Yes it may not have proper grammar or spelling errors, but they are reading and can learn to pick out those errors in the future. I have grown up with dial up internet until my sophomore year of my undergrad and didn't have texting on my phone until I was 21. However, I use it daily and find myself writing and reading more than ever before. I use it several days a week during my teaching as well. Kids are more willing to read a book off of an iPad than the paperback book in front of them. My daughter is seven and struggles with spelling but loves to read and write. I have notices that using technology with spell check has helped her learn spelling mistakes. I agree in your post that spell check is beneficial! She loves to read paper books or online texts to take online quizzes, just to use the technology. I do understand there are disadvantages to technology but the benefits out way the disadvantages in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteMichelle W, put your presentations on a website like emaze or schoology where your students have to log on and use their mobile devices to follow the presentation... Now they are using the devices as a tool for learning and Not a distraction... just a thought. You see my class rules are simple... you will be treated like young adults capable of making your own decisions... you will be allowed to make these decisions until you prove otherwise and then I'll make them for you... ie deciding that checking social media or texting a friend is more important the the lesson at hand gets one warning... then the device goes in my clear plastic tote box for the rest of class (my classes are either all morning or all afternoon)... multiple offenders deposit their device at the beginning of class every day for a week... No discipline referral or trips to the principal's office... simple immediate consequences... I took one phone for one class this past year, but then I enjoy the ability to set my own usage rules and do Not follow the so called "County" ban... my students know they will have access to their devices throughout the class period for both work and social use. That was a bit off topic, but sensed your frustration by the image you chose. I find that in many ways it is our definition of technology that drives our use of the word... do you walk to school? My guess is no... so you use technology every day just to get to school... you see my point is technology is not something you use on occasion or in different parts of a lesson... it's integrated into everyday life in various different forms. My approach comes from the ideology of what tools to I have available and what is the best way to use those tools... just a thought.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about just being happy that they are reading something. I had such a hard time getting my students to read because they could not find anything that was of interest to them. I just wish that those students who find material of interest to them on the internet could be recognized for their efforts as justly as those who read an actual book. The school systems promote 21st learning skills and using more technology, but it seems that their assessments are geared more toward physical reading material rather then digital material.
ReplyDeleteWow! I think we have similar feelings on this topic! Even after I wrote my blog, the question still lingers about how I feel about a Web Evangelist or a Traditionalist because I see valuable arguments on both sides. Ultimately, I have pledged to be flexible, innovative, and adaptable to do what is best for my kiddos, which I feel like is teaching them to be proficient at both. You spoke about the student in the article that was only reading online, which made me think of myself. I rarely by paper versions of books, when I can instantly download a book on my Kindle app and take it with me wherever I go. Some students struggle with reading lengthy passages off of a screen, although I feel it is something they will need to become stronger at in order to succeed in our changing world.
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