Media Literacy

The video on media literacy was incredible! The fact that kids that young are able to access the web and use technology amazes me! I think it is very important for kids to learn how to use technology but i never imagined teaching this age group. A strong foundation in technology provides faster learning for the students when they move into higher grade levels. This video is encouraging for teachers because it shows that teaching students this young about technology and how to use it is very possible and seems to be easy. By making it fun and easy to understand for the young students, they would quickly learn.

Ms. Cassidy's first grade class is quite impressive with the kids' knowledge of technology. I think it is so awesome that the kids blog in their class. I think it is such a great way for the kids to get to write and practice and at the same time learn about technology and for parents and others to see their progress as well. Kids using this technology are more prepared for higher education and for life in the real world. Our society is based on technology and these kids are building strong foundations for their futures in technology.

Podcast

I thought the SmartBoard Lessons podcast was good. The guy gives full explanations of the topic he is talking about and gives his opinion on how it is useful. I thought that the fact he was in his car and ordering coffee was a bit confusing and distracting. I understand he was trying to make a point of how easy it is to use technology but to me it was distracting. In the KidCast podcast, the speaker speaks clearly and explains very thoroughly the idea of video podcast. He talks about all aspects of video podcasting such as equipment and instructions. This podcast is a good example for podcasting because it is interesting, explanatory and easy to understand.

The podcast by ConnectLearning was another good podcast. This is an interesting one because it is not just one person speaking but instead has a question and answer session. This type of podcast is more interesting because it has many people speaking and has people discussing topics and giving opinions. The podcast by EdTech Talk was also good but not the best one in my opinion. I found the sound quality to be poor. The content of the podcast was interesting and the speakers speak well and are understandable.

The MacBreak Weekly podcast was the best one to me because it was the highest quality. It had multiple people talking which is more interesting than just one speaking. They are talking about interesting topics that are important for people to hear about. They make it fun and interesting while still being informative.

The This Week In Photography podcast was another podcast of high quality. The people are entertaining on the show and have interesting topics. They give their opinion and full explanation on the topic which helps the listener know fully what they are listening to. The sound on this podcast is very clear which is a positive characteristic for a listener.

iPhone Babies

The video of this baby using is really awesome. It's amazing that children this young are able to use such advance technology. I think it's important for kids to learn about certain technologies while young. Technology can be very advantageous for kids and their development.

A Vision of Students Today

The video "A Vision of Students Today" by Michael Wesch presented several interesting facts and created a unique experience to get the watcher thinking. Much of the facts in the video were pretty accurate for my experience in college. Many times I choose to do other things than study. I do not spend nearly enough time studying. I think it is true that in a class students would read more on the Internet than in the textbook. I find myself using more available online sources instead of actually taking the time to read my book. All the statistics about the hours of sleep, online usage, music listening, eating and work are all accurate to my experience in college.

While many things are similar to my experience, there are many that do not exactly match me. For instance since I go to the University of South Alabama, which is a smaller university, most of my classes on average are about 30 to 60 people. Another difference would be in teachers knowing my name. Most of my teachers know my name and strive to know everyones'. In the issue of emails, I do not agree that i write more emails than pages in class. for many of my classes I write much more on paper than in emails. And lastly when it comes to students using computers in the classroom, my teachers who do allow computers in their classrooms are very strict on their usage.

It's Not About the Technology

This post by Kelly Hines was both informative and inspirational. She does not put the emphasis on technology in the classroom but on an open learning environment from the teachers to the students. Hines said that it is more important for teachers to be open minded to learning than being overly skilled with technology. In order for the teacher to learn about technology he or she must open up themselves to be thought. By putting themselves in this mindset, a teacher can go from learning about technology to using it for the betterment of a class instead of emerging a child into it without helping them understand it.

Hines is keeping teachers accountable to never cease the "open to learning" mindset. In order to be a good teacher, one must not stop learning or wanting to learn. To benefit a class teachers must dedicate themselves to learning as much as they can about new technologies that would help them learn better. Technology is important but it is more important to be open to learning new things and understanding new things. In doing this a teacher can reach more students in different ways.

Is It Okay to Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

This post by Karl Fisch was very interesting to me because Mr. Fisch and I share several of the same ideas about the responsibilities of educators. In the post he discusses the argument on whether it is acceptable as a teacher to be technologically illiterate in the 21st century. He feels very strongly about teachers being educated on technology in the classroom. I have to agree with him by saying that in today's world of teaching it is unacceptable. Teachers should keep up to date with technology not only because they want to but also because it is mandatory. Schools should enforce technology training as well as provide it. Like Mr. Fisch said, if a teacher is not kept up to date with technology then the school administration is part of the blame.

As educators we should strive to educate students with the best tools possible. Even basic skills in tech can help students learn and prepare them for life in the real world. A teacher who does not want to expand their knowledge in technology, to me, is not dedicated to their students' potentially higher education. It should be a desire for all teachers to learn about these things and to teach them as well.

Social Media Count

The Social Media Counter by Gary Hayes is incredible to me. The amount of technology used each second s incredible. The amount of texts seems fairly accurate to me considering i text constantly. The amount of social networking such as Facebook and Twitter is unbelievable. Both are such great tools for reaching others and it amazes me to see how many people are connected through the Internet. The amount of YouTube videos is another interesting area because i spend lots of time on there watching videos. I had no idea there were that many videos added daily.

When I see something like this counter, it makes me wonder why a teacher or anyone else for that matter, would not want to be technologically literate. Using these tools you can be connected to people all over the world and learn lots of new things. Why wouldn't someone want to better themselves and widen their horizons?

Did you know?

The video "Did you know 3.0?" by Karl Fisch was very interesting due to the facts and statistics he used. Many of his statistics were surprising to me. I think the creator of the video was using the statistics to get a shocked yet positive reaction from his viewers. It is exciting to think that technology has come so far in so little time and that it is only growing faster. The idea that technology is changing so rapidly can be scary to some since it means the things you learn now will not be valid later. I think that it is exciting that we will constantly have to learn new things and keep up to date with a modern world. The only way to survive in our world is to keep up. Those who do not, end up failing.

One of the most interesting statistics in the video is that China will soon become the number 1 English speaking country. This amazes me because this means that the students over their not only become familiar with their own language but ours as well. The determination and standards must be on a higher level than those in the U.S. because most Americans only know English. At the end of the video the question was asked, "what does all this mean?" and I believe that all of those powerful facts and statistics meant we must never stop learning, exploring or finding out answers. If we do then we will be left behind in a fast paced world.

Mr. Winkle Wakes

The video "Mr. Winkle Wakes," by Matthew Needleman is a story of a man who slept for a hundred years and awakens to find the world is now running on computers. He visits a hospital, an office building and a school. Out of those three, the school is the only one who did not use computers. Being a sophomore in college, I can remember using computers since the fourth grade! I have used them more and more ever since. I could not imagine my education without the use of computers. They have been a prominent tool in my education and I believe have contributed greatly to it.

I think it would be foolish not to use technology such as computers as a part of education. There are so many things that could help people learn more or at a quicker pace. I believe not using such technology is robbing a person of an opportunity for a more developed education. Also by using technology in education, a person could be equipped for the real world which, like the video displays, is run by computers. I do believe teachers are the most important aspect of education because human contact is a nessecity and they can teach things a computer cannot. Technology is merely a small portion of education which I feel is needed. When coupled with technology, I feel that teachers could have more success in the classroom. Education is falling behind because they are not up to date with a technologically savvy world.

The Importance of Creativity

Sir Ken Robinson's speech on creativity presents many impressive ideas and valid arguments. His stance on the topic of preserving creativity in schools is passionate and very admirable as an educator. He brought up the argument that some kids need to express creativity in order to learn. I agree with his speech and think it is important for a student to be able to express themselves in order to learn.

The other point I agree on with Sir Robinson is the idea that not all students who are easily distracted in the classroom setting are in need of medication. I think certain kids need specific education needs which can be easily met instead of just chalking it up to some sort of sickness. I believe each student has specific needs and while it is impossible to cater to every one's needs, there are ways that they can be helped. I think that educators are the most important people of society today and with more concentration on bettering our system I think that more students' needs can be met.

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

In our world today the importance of digital citzenship cannot be expressed enough. Vicki Davis' work with her students and with her website is an inspiration for educators everywhere. Living in rural Georgia, her students are communicating with others all over the world. The work she has done is imperative in a technological world of opportunity. So much can be gained through technology and she is making sure her students are prepared. As a future educator I hope to make an impact as big as Mrs. Davis' on my students and on education as a whole.

The dedication of Mrs. Davis in her journey to educate her students is quite impressive. She knows the role technology plays in the world and that her students need it in order to be successful. Knowledge in technology is something that everyone can use and is growing into something that everyone needs. I believe it is important for both students and teachers to learn about technology in order to better themselves and others.