visualizations, math manipulatives, and stories and poems in audio and video formats." (Maloy, Verock-O' Loughlin, Edwards, 2013, 8) These tools can be very useful, they allow students to get more practice with the information. I think these activities can also be useful in providing that "hands on" learning experience, even if the school is lacking funds. It allows schools who don't have the money to get stuff like the latest lab equipment, to provide those students with the ability to still complete those activities in a "virtual" way. This is creating a fairer, and more even learning environment amongst schools.
The Second Concept I want to discuss from our textbook:"Transforming Learning With New Technologies (2nd Edition)" is "Barriers to Technology Use." (Maloy, Verock-O' Loughlin, Edwards, 2013, 30-32) In this section, Maloy, Loughlin, and Edwards talk about different problems that "prevent students from being able to work with the newest technology," in one section of the text; Maloy, Loughlin, and Edwards discuss one of the big reasons being "lack of access." (Maloy, Verock-O' Loughlin, Edwards, 2013, 31) I think this is very interesting. In my opinion, it would be easier and less expensive, for schools to purchase all the up to date technology products, rather than buy individual products for each subject. (Ex. Microscopes for Science, Shapes for Math) When you have something like a computer or a "smart board", you are able to access learning tools for any subject. Most technology lasts quite a long time, as you are usually able to just download updates.
The Final Concept I want to discuss from the our textbook:"Transforming Learning With New Technologies (2nd Edition)" is from the portion titled "Critics of Technology in Schools."(Maloy, Verock-O' Loughlin, Edwards, 2013, 34) In this section, Maloy, Loughlin, and Edwards talk about how some people feel like technology "negatively affect a child."(Maloy, Verock-O' Loughlin, Edwards, 2013, 34) I disagree with this. If used in a educational way, technology provides so many benefits and rewards. Nowadays technology is so important, if you never incorporate technology into students' education, they will be overwhelmed when they start life in the "real world."
Resources:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Schwarz, G. (2015, May 17) Technology. Created with toondoo.com http://www.toondoo.com/View.toon?param=8946646
Great reflective blog post on three very relevant and important concepts. :) It is amazing how integral and ubiquitous technology has become in our lives. I do think that sometimes people put the blame on technology for some negative consequences, but it really is about the humans controlling (or not!) their use of technology...and the key is purposeful balance!
ReplyDeleteIn addition, you included the important ethical responsibility of properly adding your resources and adding a created digital web 2.0 tool - nice work! :) For future blog posts, continue what you started here with the addition of appropriate and cited images/videos, if applicable, as well as a new web 2.0 digital tool that you create and embed (or link if embed code is not available) - or you can use ToonDoo again but make it more complex (perhaps three panel with a story line).