I loved this article and its quiz along with it. I am really interested in understanding the blockage of knowledge due to generation differences when applied to technology. I grew up in an enviornment where technology was available. Available, not welcomed or fostered. As my father's office was connected to our house, I can remember being in middle school and how I would run down to the office after dinner to wait 20 minutes for AOL to log me on to the internet so I could talk to my friends. I would spend hours down there checking email, surfing the web, and talking to my friends. All of this was available, and though it was there, I had to learn about computers on my own. As our readings have stated, much of what we know today about technology has largely to do with how our parents have dealt with emerging technology. My father only had a computer because his profession required it, and my mother was completely computer illiterate. Even now with instruction and ample time, my parents still do not recognize the computer as a major tool in today's world. Because of this, I would say that I am a digital native, though I did get two answers wrong, I got most of them correct.
Unfortunately, I am not as computer savvy as I would like. I know how to operate technology, but I get stuck on the trouble-shooting aspect of it. I too thought that "mod" was a form of fashion and I can see that I could stand some improvement in this area. There is the idea out there that kids are exposed to too much TV, video games, movies, computer games, etc. and I agree with that to some extent, but I also can see how they have developed young minds into today's technological leaders. Fore example, my older brother is very knowledgeable with new technology because in large part he was in a nurturing enviornment. His room was hooked up to the internet and mine was not. I believe this is why my brothers are more educated in this area than I am.
I as a teacher fully intend to incorporate and provide a nurturing enviornmnt for technology. I can see that computers are now becoming more readily available for the classroom and I fully believe that in the future, there will be one computer for every child in the classroom. If this does happen, I dream of having interactive lessons as a class on their computers. I think this will greatly help visual learners, as they are limited today due to seating arrangement, types of writing, other students in the classroom etc. I, as a highly visual learner, would like to see this happen for young visual learners.
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2 comments:
Alexis,
Great post! I can fully empathize with your middle school need for new age things like Instant Messaging, and AOL's phone dial-up. I can even still hear the sound it made when I think about it! What I think is the most interesting is that you grew up in a much less technology nurturing environment than I did and yet seem to be much more proficient, especially with an outcome of four right! I started wondering, did your brothers have any impact on your computer savvy? A friend or boyfriend? Because I'm trying to figure out how I missed it!
Again, I can totally agree with not being as computer savvy as you desire to be. With our students being born into a generation of wireless internet in coffee shops and McDonald's it's hard for me to think that I could ever catch up! I wondered, once you learn how to apply the new technology do you think you'll be able to incorporate it into your lessons? And do you think technology makes learning deeper and more meaningful, or shallower and more accessible?
What about for other learners that are not visual? The beauty, I think, of your vision of technology and computers in every classroom could be individualized lessons for each student, even though the preparation for that could be endless. Maybe in the future of children with computers at the their desks, teachers get paid more, too! :-p
Overall, I think your post was very thoughtful, and it seems like you are trying to find effective ways to better your own technological understanding and to further your students education by using technology! Also, I liked that you incorporated the different types of learners into your analysis! This type of thoughtful reflection indicates to me that your students will be lucky to have you as a teacher!
It's interesting that talk about generational differences and JoAnne talked about how we think about places according to wireless access. I'm sure my parents don't know that the Bob Evans on Grand River doesn't have wireless but the Big Boy in Webberville does (and, of course that both server breakfast all day). The difference between Bigby's and Starbucks? Not the coffee- Bigby's internet is free and Starbucks isn't.
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