There’s no denying how much of an impact communications technology has on our everyday lives. Whether you’re a tech-savvy computer wiz or just getting by with an outdated flip phone, many of us (myself included) would be lost – or, at the very least, really bored – without the many communications technologies we use regularly. After some consideration, I have to say my cell phone, my laptop, and my iPod are the most important to me. Each of them has shaped my life in some way and they allow for me to be constantly connected to the outside world.
I ranked my cell phone first; more portable than a laptop but capable of just about all the same things, my cell phone is what keeps me consistently connected to what’s going on. I can get the news, Facebook and Twitter updates, texts, picture messages, phone calls, emails, check my bank account, play games and music, watch videos and movies, view, edit and create Microsoft Office documents, and more, from just about anywhere. My laptop is second because it can do all that and more, but I’m not on it as much. My iPod, though a few generations outdated, is still one of my favorite technologies because it was the first type of communications technology I learned how to use.
Because of these technologies I have become very resourceful. If I have a question, I can Google the answer in less than a minute. The internet is full of countless resources for people who are looking to learn; in fact, this summer I learned how to crochet by watching Youtube videos with step-by-step instructions. More than that, you can connect to like-minded people, either through blogs, websites, forums, or even Facebook Group pages, where you can exchange ideas and learn more about the world around you – that’s how I decided to become a vegetarian when I was in high school! The internet can really be a great educational tool.
Of course, I’ve also experienced the downside of these technologies – feeling “too” connected and overly accessible. People expect you to be instantly available to them, but when you get busy or when your phone is going off every 5 minutes, it can all feel a little overwhelming and annoying. Every once in a while, I’ll shut off my phone for a few hours (but this doesn’t happen often due to the feelings of anxiety I get about being disconnected from what’s going on).
While watching the video about Olivia, the first thing I noticed is that technology is not necessarily as easily accessible to her as it is to me. This will probably be the case for some of my students, and it’s definitely something I’ll need to keep in mind as a teacher when assigning work that require the use of technology.
It is our jobs as teachers to use this technology to incite interest and enthusiasm from our students about what we’re teaching, but we’ll probably also have to teach some of them how to use the technology first or show them what possibilities exist for using that technology to learn. It can be useful to tap into what they do know how to use – Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc. – and show them the educational merits to those sites. I also think it would be interesting to explore the ways to incorporate cell phones into the classroom, since that is a technological device that most students do have regular access to. At the end of the day, it’s about being able to keep their attention for long enough to teach them something, and technology is a great way to do that.
The students in the second video reminded me a little more of the kind of technological dependence I see and experience in my everyday life, as they described their devices as third appendages or absolute necessities. Although one can argue the downsides to this dependence, teachers need to use it to their advantage as a way to engage students. If we can find a way to show students the educational side to technology, we can even inspire them to seek knowledge on the internet on their own, like the students in the second video. The possibilities for every content area are literally endless.
I also ranked my cell phone as the most influential technology to me because I depend on it in order to be updated with everything going on such as the weather, news, email, and of course for calls and messages. I believe that because we have this constant connection to technology that we do sometimes forget that there are people who don't have that access. About Olivia's video, I agree with your point about us as teachers having to keep in mind what our students may or may not have access to.
ReplyDeleteWatching Olivia's video reminded me of the important fact that not every student will have easy access to a computer. I think you are absolutely right that as teachers we will need to keep in mind the difficulties students may have when it comes to outside assignments that involve technologies. In reference to your comment about the use of cell phones in class, I actually heard of high schools that do use cell phones-sending automated questions through texts or surveys. I think this could be a proactive way of using an everyday technology in the classroom for students.
ReplyDeleteYour response made me consider the fact that we always have opportunities to better our lives when we have a computer or phone at our fingertips. Sources such as Google allow us to learn quickly while Facebook has easy access to interacting with the people in our lives who may be able to assist us with something whenever we need help. However, I do feel the downside of technology. Being too connected is not always a good thing because it invades a lack of privacy and creates a level of anxiety that feels unnecessary. The positives outweigh the negatives though; as for students there is always a sense of openness that does not constrict their views when wanting to use technology to learn more about any given topic. As a future educator, this is helpful when considering the fact that a little more than a decade ago, students did not have this advantage. The influence technology has over learning is very strong, as it has became a new medium to see and interact with the world in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I think you made an excellent statement regarding the goal of a teacher: to use the technology dependency as an advantage. I think that students will jump at the opportunity to use tools such as computers, iPads, and smart boards. The "educational side to technology" will help to create a classroom full of eager students. They will be excited to do a project on Ancient Greece or learn about a Japanese Haiku if they can use technology to personalize the experience (download music from Greece/ listen to a recording of a poet read a haiku). I do not own a twitter but the media site really interests me since I know so many people are addicted. I would love to look into different projects and lessons that incorporate Twitter ie. a lesson on advertisements.
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I like how you touched upon feeling "too connected" and how it can be overwhelming to be expected to be available at all times of the day/night. Technology is a great thing, but that is a major downfall. You are right in that teachers should utilize their student's dependence on technology to their advantage. You say you learned how to crochet on YouTube; With a little creativity, I think teachers can use technology to really help their students achieve!
ReplyDeleteNatalie- I agree that as teacher we need to put in perspective that not all of our students will have the ability to use technology everyday for assignments, so we must be flexible. I remember times when I was assigned to type up a essay in middle school and I didn't have a computer at home so I would have to go to the library which was a pain sometimes. I was lucky that there was the library to get my work done, but there should have been a written version as well in case other students were able to get to the library.
ReplyDeleteNatalie -- Great post. I agree the educational impact of twitter and facebook is worth exploring. Since twitter uses hashtags, it would be interesting to see a live twitter feed on a topic in a classroom. Imagine we were doing a lesson on poverty, or biochemistry, and we had a live stream of people posting their ideas and information on it somewhere in the class. Students might find this more relevant, and the key is to make the material relevant to students.
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