I particularly like this quote for many reasons. If you would take a look around any populated place such as a mall or restaurant, you will see many people who have their phones. out. However, there will always be those certain few who may not even own a phone. At our school, we have a group of "redneck/country boys" who are all great kids but ornery at times! You should see them on a computer! It takes them forever to type a paper. However, if you would have them to reassemble a small engine, they would be the first ones done. As an educator, it is important that I remember that not all students are technologically advanced.
Chapter 8: According to the 2009 ECAR study, 87 percent of students rate themselves as either early (ahead of their peers) or mainstream (on or par with their peers) adopters of new technologies (p. 121)."
I am shocked at their figure. I know a lot of students are great with technology but I did not realize it would be this high! I was thinking more around 65-70%! This can be both beneficial and harmful. I hope students will put this to good use and not use it for bad things such as cyber bullying!
Chapter 9: In Sweden more than half of five year olds are using the Internet and there are almost no non-users among teenagers and young adults (p. 137)."
I am somewhat confused by these figures. Are the kids using the internet simply for games/streaming videos or are they using it for their school work? There are many great resources available on the Internet for young students. I encourage my little cousin to get on Cool Math and play some of the games. While they are considered games, they still help with her math skills and are educational.
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I am in the middle of the road on this particular topic. I do feel that teachers should be responsible for this to an extent. However, parents/guardians should be doing their part as well. By the time students get to school, most of them probably know how to turn on a computer and find the Internet. In Sweden more than half of five year olds are using the Internet and there are almost no non-users among teenagers and young adults (Findahl & Zimic, 2008). In middle school, teachers should be introducing students to programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Some students may not have access to technology at home so it is vital that teachers allow students to use computers at school. Since I work at the high school, most of the students I work with are accustomed to using the computers. However, I still go over the basics with them at the beginning of the school year. I focused a lot this past year on cyber bullying.
For my meme, I decided to use this picture with students who are using a computer. I feel that teachers should build on students' existing knowledge. If students already know how to access the Internet, spend your time doing something else!
We chose the same quotes from Chapters 7 and 8! Those two statements really spoke to me as an educator. I agree with you that not all students are technologically advanced. I have had some students in my classroom who have trouble navigating an app on the iPad. As far as the data has shown in Chapter 8, social media has a lot to do with the high numbers.
ReplyDeleteI do like what you did with your meme. I agree that we shouldn't spend all of our time teaching children how to use technology, especially if they already know how to use it. Good job!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I really enjoyed reading your post. I also find you meme very interesting. It is very important that teachers build on students existing knowledge and connect with things they already know. This will help them in the long run find way to connect with they are learning. Like you said if they already have access to the internet and know their way around, maybe teachers can use that to even teach them a new topic.
Your meme is very accurate. Many kids already have so much exposure to technology that if we can teach them how to use it for academic purposes, it would almost surely be a great pairing. Your meme just reaffirmed my belief that the education system should be using technology as much as possible and in as many ways as possible. I do really like your example from chapter 7 though. The author spent a lot of time talking about cultural differences, but there are cultural differences right here in WV. Not everyone is designed to gravitate toward technology and as educators we need to be aware and accepting of that. I know for myself, I would much rather read informational text on paper than on a computer screen. I need to be able to mark it up and make it my own to fully understand it.
ReplyDeleteMichelle W, HOODA Math is GREAT! and there are levels for all ranges and ages... even adults! You have to be careful though, it could make learning fun (Sarcasm, my wife says I have disclose all sarcasm). I too, had some issues with the data reported in the chapter readings, but take it with a grain of salt and try to focus on the information or the why were they assembling the data or doing the research... what did they want to find? I agree with your thought conveyed in the MEME... learning should always build on previous learning... we do not learn in a vacuum, build upon what you have already learned.
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