Reflection on "Technology Tools for Educators"

I have really enjoyed “Technology Tools for Educators,” and it has helped me to become less of a “technophobe.” This course opened my eyes to a wide array of technologies that could be incorporated into a K-12 classroom setting. I was familiar with some of the technologies used/discussed in class, while others were new to me such as Second Life. As I have stated, I am not overly technology savvy. However, this course brought to my attention the impact technologies have in today’s world and that students are growing up not knowing a world without them. I think this would be a great course for parents to take to make them aware of what technologies their children are exposed to and using on a daily basis. Just as students go through learning about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, they, and their parents/guardians, need to know the dangers of various technologies and how to be safe, smart, and responsible with them. Great class!

Reflection for week 11

I watched an interesting television program last night on the Discovery Channel entitled “Rise of the Video Game” (http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/video-game/video-game.html). This was the second in a series of five episodes which chronicles the history and future of video games and the overall industry. It’s funny to reflect on when the Nintendo Entertainment System, for in-home use, came out in the 80s. I remember the parents of one of my friends said that for Christmas they were getting one of the systems. We went insane! I think for weeks, or maybe it was months, all we wanted to do was play Super Mario Brothers. Thinking back, I cannot explain why we were so enthralled with the Nintendo ES. The only explanation I can come to is that it brought the video arcade into our homes. Whereas before the only time we were able to play video games was when we went out to a restaurant that had them and we had to beg our parents for a few quarters. It’s amazing to see what a huge part video games, whether they are pc or home gaming systems or just games on cell phones or PDAs, have become of our lives, which will most likely continue into the future.

Reflection for week 10

I found a news clip online entitled, “Facebook Gets Boy In Worcester Busted By Boss” http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/ver/247.1/popup/index.php?cl=5001441, on Yahoo News. It talks about a young man who told his boss that he couldn’t work a particular night for various reasons, but posted some photos of himself on Facebook at a party during the night he said he couldn’t work. His boss found the photos online and confronted the man. I’m dumbfounded that many "young" people do not think of possible consequences, present day or future, of what they post online—blogs, video, photos. It’s like they think only other “young” people post information and look at those sites. I think we definitely need to step up the issue of “virtual” appropriateness and inappropriateness and get them to understand that what they post online today, may well still be online twenty years from now.

Reflection for Week 9

I reviewed a number of the top 100 Web 2.0 websites and realized that I currently use some of them, but never knew they were “Web 2.0.” One particular website is http://www.kayak.com/, which provides a search of numerous travel sites. I think this website is very helpful because I enter my departure city, arrival city, and dates/times I want to travel and it searches other travel websites, such as http://www.orbitz.com/, http://www.expedia.com/, and http://www.cheaptickets.com/, for best available rates. I can then select the travel website through which I want to purchase airfare, hotel, car rental, etc. http://www.kayak.com/ saves me from having to go to various individual travel websites to search for the best deal. It’s a one-stop-shop!

Reflection for week 8

At the current moment I am extremely upset with the Internet and Web 2.0 technologies because of a horrific tragedy that occurred last week to a student I worked with over the summer and early fall. She had answered a nanny ad posted on Craigslist.org for a family whom indicated on Facbook.com that they recently moved to the area. She and the “family” arranged a meeting location and time, which sadly lead to her death. What is currently known is that a 19-year-old man placed the ad and is now being held in police custody for her murder. Details of how she died have not yet been released.

I am disgusted and appalled that someone would use this technology to prey upon the trust and good-nature of people to commit such a senseless act of violence. It is interesting that while people look to technologies such as Craigslist.org and Facebook.com to add convenience, flexibility, and social connectedness to their lives, the truth of the matter is that people can be or not be who ever they want on these sites. I am not saying that people shouldn’t trust everyone and everything on the Internet; however, in another way I am. In general, people can never be overly cautious because their safety is what is at stake.

Reflection for week 7

Big Question: What impact does Web 2.0 have on teaching and learning? Over the last couple weeks with in-class discussions and readings and my own “googling” of Web 2.0, I think I have a better grasp on it. Overall, I see Web 2.0 offering more dynamic website experiences, allowing end-users to have an impact on how they view and interact with websites, blogs, wikis, etc., and promoting collaboration between people. Additionally, people do not have to have extensive expertise in technology to “do” or “use” Web 2.0 technologies. I can also see why people are drawn to popular media such as Youtube, My Space, and Facebook because they are learning how to communicate and network with others, which in turn helps them to create and join social communities. People are now becoming more interactive versus passive users of web technologies, which in the end allows them to form what and how they teach and learn.

Reflection for week 6

For the last week, my attention has been completely focused on the technology purchase project and the web design project. At first both projects seemed daunting because I am not a licensed teacher with my own classroom. However, after I took sometime to reflect on both, I came to the conclusion that I need to “think outside the box.” For the technology purchase project, I decided to take the standpoint as if I were working fulltime at a museum. My idea is to assemble a “technology” art cart through which children would use a computer to create artwork with interactive arts software. For the web design project, I decided to create a website that would serve as an “electronic” artist portfolio for me. Areas I chose to highlight include about the artist, artist’s interests, and artwork galleries. So far, so good.

Admittedly, I am unknowledgeable of Web 2.0. I felt the Frencken, Jacobi, and Jager article helped me to understand Web 2.0 a little better in the sense that it has to do with encouraging educators and students to use technologies such as blogs, podcasts, interactive television, and wikis to facilitate interactive and collaborative learning environments. However, I did google Web 2.0 and learned from Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) that it does not necessarily mean there is going to be a new version of the WWW, but that it “refers to a perceived second generation of web-based communities…which aim to facilitate collaboration and sharing between users.”

My brief experience with e-learning technologies has included blogs, WebCT, and interactive television, although not on an international level. I can definitely see today’s students being drawn to using Web 2.0 technologies more often because they most likely have been exposed to them in one form or another since they can remember and thus may not feel apprehension towards them. However, I have concern for school districts and families who are unable to afford such technologies. What does lack of exposure to Web 2.0 mean to their learning? Is their education at a major disadvantage?

I can definitely see Web 2.0 fitting in a constructivist classroom because its purpose is to get students to interact and collaborate through the use of the technologies. However, I think educators need to put forth effort to create structured learning experiences for students because I see potential for them to stray with particular tasks they may find uninteresting. I believe set structures, boundaries, and outcomes are necessary when using Web 2.0 in a constructivist classroom.