This is How We Dream

This video by Dr. Richard Miller was very interesting and presented many ideas about multimedia writing. He discusses the many different things one can do on the computer to write, create or learn. He talks about how he created an article for the one year anniversary of the Virginia Tech killings without ever going into a library. He showed how he used online resources to research his topic and to write his article. He also created a graphic on the computer to go along with his article.

Miller also discussed how information can be used and shared through technology whether it be from the past or present. One of his examples was the recent presidential election. It was amazing to me the way he could follow the election as it was happening and see each states voting patterns and also video reactions to Obama winning. He used this to say that this information that is available on the web can help you write and can be used as sources for project.

All of his examples were really cool and he explained all of them thoroughly. I thought his presentation is important for teachers and students to see because it shows the many ways one can write with multimedia. I think I can write using multimedia and i plan on teaching my students how if they do not already know. I think it is very important that each student knows how to use technology for a better education.

The Networked Student

The video by Wendy Drexler was all about connectivism in the classroom. Her video depicted a student who uses connectivism to succeed in the classroom. The student is taking a class where he goes to class 3 days a week and 2 days online and he does not have a textbook. His teacher believes in connectivism which is the theory that thinks that learning occurs through a social network of many diverse connections. With this theory the student does most of his work online.He is given an assignment uses the Internet to find out all he can on his topic.

The teacher is there to teach him how to use this network of connections and to build his own network. It is also said that his teacher rarely lectures. To me I think this way of learning may be useful for some but not everyone. While learning on your own is important I believe it could also leave some students lost. Some students require personal work and time in a classroom setting to better understand things. I know that in my experience I like having class time to ask questions and get immediate personal help directly from a teacher.

Also under this way of learning I believe it is cutting the responsibilities of teachers and maybe ultimately cutting jobs. If a student can do everything over the Internet then why have as many teachers when you could only use a few. I think it is great to be connected and for students to use their own knowledge to find answers but at the same time I value the traditional teaching methods I have experienced. Students sometimes need that personal contact with a teacher because they do not get it at home. It seems also that with this there is a lot of applied pressure on students.

Michael Wesch Video

In this video Michael Wesch talks about the social technology of the day and how it is affecting people. He talks about how people today are narcissistic. I agree that more and more people are becoming narcissistic and caring less about the world today. Everyone is taught that they are the best when they need to be taught that we are all equal as humans but all different in personality. This view of themselves is only encouraged by today's society.

Wesch also talks about YouTube and how it is used by people today. It has turned into a personal space where people feel they are able to share as a confessional and are not seen. It is being used as a place for people to interact in both positive and negative ways. The conclusion of this video is basically Wesch asking how we can use this technology to get away from this narcissistic personality.

Personal Learning Network

My PLN is small but slowly growing. I am trying to social network myself and also making contact with other educators. I have a Facebook page, a Twitter and I am using many other applications to expand my network.