Week 2

1. Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
I found Michael Wesch's video "A Vision Of Students Today" to be so very accurate that it actually made me laugh. Things such as, "I buy hundred dollar text books that I never open", "I will be $20,000 dollars in dept after graduation" and "I'm a multi-tasker, I have to be" are the details of my life.

Last semester, I got a 3.5 and I sold back all of my text books for thirty percent of what I paid for them. I believe that's the reality for myself and many of my fellow classmates. In addition to this, I qualify for financial aid but it doesn't quite pay the bills like my loans do. I'm already at least $14,000 in dept but hey, what's another six grand or so right? As for being a multi-tasker, how about writing a blog for class, bouncing the babies chair with my foot, chatting to my friends on facebook, texting my mom, and eating dinner; that would be my life at the moment.

If I were to be holding one of the signs in the film, there would be many things mine might say. "I could have wrapped up the entire lecture in two sentences", "I'm here by choice, please teach like you are as well","Believe it or not I have obligations outside of school" are all examples of what I might contribute to the video.

2. Read the post "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines writes about the importance of having teachers who are willing to learn in her blog entitled "It's Not About the Technology". She recognizes the importance of technology in the classroom but argues against this being the focal point of teachers. Preparation of the teachers and well rounded learners is what Hines feel are some more important aspects of teaching.

There are several reasons why I would have to agree with Hines that technology is an important tool in the classroom but not the most important tool. Slide shows and gadgets aren't effective if the instructor doesn't know how to correctly implement them into the learning experience. If all the future educators are only taught how to use technology to teach, I would hate to be that teacher during a thunderstorm. I think that one should rely on their skills of teaching and use technology as an aid not a necessity.

3. Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
I found Karl Fisch's blog to be sort of scattered and it was as if he couldn't quite gather his thoughts. In addition to this, I didn't fully agree with everything he stated and I felt as though he was a little over the top. "If a teacher today is not technologically literate- and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more- it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read and write." Fisch asks for the readers comments on the preceding quote. Well, I think we both should be able to agree that this is a little bit of a stretch. A teachers primary job 30 years ago was to teach children to read and write, this is still probably the number one expectation of a teacher. Teaching kids how to use technology wouldn't be a teachers first priority, so they aren't equivocal.

On the contrary, I feel as if Fisch did make many valid points. There are so many people and even teachers that are proud of their ignorance. It should not be socially acceptable to not be able to get around in the world using basic technology. Even this very semester, I have a teacher who has no idea how to use the smart board in her classroom and would rather use the whiteboard. She continuously points out how technologically illiterate she is. I can see how myself and my fellow classmates are often astonished and annoyed with this. What's even more frustrating is how she still hasn't managed to work the computer and class has been in session for awhile now.

Social Media Counts
I think it is astounding at the rate things are happening. It is also crazy to thing that I am contributing to all of it. As a future teacher, this means that my students will most likely have Internet access and instant communication. This can mean more drama on the playground. Not only will students have to deal with bullying face to face, they may also experience some of it via social networking. However, this also means students will have access to many sources and there research will greatly benefit. But, only time will truly tell how technology will advance and change the education of our future generation.