Does Technology Make Us Stupid?

What about those who feel our use of technology is making us stupid? Many in academia resist technology because they think it makes us lazy and unable to do simple tasks without it. Do they have a point or do they just mock things they don’t understand?

Here is an article about Dr. Mark Bauerlein, an English professor at Emory University, author of The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future (Or, Don’t Trust Anyone Under 30).
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_12397.shtml

And another article by Alexz Fulco “Is Google making our generation 'stoopid?'”

Do you they have a point or just a resisting?

Let me know what you think.

Mike

National Education Technology Standards

While primarily designed for K-12 teachers, the National Education Technology Standards (NETS) developed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), is also a good starting point for college instructor technology proficiency.

Since 2000, ISTE has been providing the teachers with the listing of baseline technology skills every educator should have. NETS has also provided a widely accepted standard for what students should know about technology.

The concept is simple, if we have accepted a standard of student proficiency; we also need standards for those whom the students depend to teach them. We can take this a step further and see the importance of college instructors modeling the behaviors since the teachers have to be able get this knowledge somewhere.

Let me know what you think,

Mike

Internet and Computing Core Certification

Here is an idea.

Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³) is view by many as the gold standard in computer literacy. This brochure covers the basics,
http://www.fadvassessments.com/docs/datasheets/ic3.pdf

If this standard has been adopted as worldwide standard as something everyone should know about the Internet and computers, should this now become what our college faculty members should know at a minimum?

Here is a story about Taiwan adopting the standard as a nation,
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS31101+12-Mar-2009+BW20090312

Let me know what you think,
Mike

What Technology Skills Should Educators Have?

We began by mentioning fear as a reason why some instructors resist change and are discouraged by the use of technology in the classroom. If one were to study that fear perhaps reasoning could emerge concerning why that fear exists. Often times when dealing with a child about controlling their fear of that “something under the bed”, we are able to apply logic by showing them there is fact is nothing under the bed. So if there is nothing under the bed, there is nothing to be afraid of.

In this case of using technology in the classroom, there is quite a lot “under the bed” and simple logic may not work. In either case what we are dealing with is fear of the unknown and while very different on the surface there is striking similarity beneath. In looking for a place to start, the thought occurred that making the unknown known is one proven effective cure for fear. That being the case, what parameters should be known?

For our purposes it may be helpful to establish a list of sorts of the technology skills required to effectively take command of modern community college classroom. If such a list existed then one could actually have a road map to establish an actual route out of the abyss. Armed with this idea I went out hunting for just such a list and found this one by Laura Turner;

"Here are 20 basic technology skills that all educators should now have:

1. Word Processing Skills
2. Spreadsheets Skills
3. Database Skills
4. Electronic Presentation Skills
5. Web Navigation Skills
6. Web Site Design Skills
7. E-Mail Management Skills
8. Digital Cameras
9. Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
10. File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
11. Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
12. Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
13. WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
14. Videoconferencing skills
15. Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
16. Scanner Knowledge
17. Knowledge of PDAs
18. Deep Web Knowledge
19. Educational Copyright Knowledge
20. Computer Security Knowledge"

Reference: Laura Turner, "20 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have," T.H.E. Journal, 6/1/2005, http://www.thejournal.com/articles/17325

Please take a look and tell me what you think, are there things on this list that shouldn’t be? What about things left out?

Online Teaching Tools

One of the things I think will make a great impact in teachers using technology more often is their getting used to some of the tools out there to help them do their jobs. I came across this web site that is just jammed packed with tools and other features teachers can start using right away.

http://www.4teachers.org/

The site is easy to navigate and offers such useful items as quiz makers, rubric creators, and information on project based learning and more. All designed to get teacher using technology. Each of these items is customizable and pretty adaptable to most subjects so will be useful to a variety of instructors regardless of topic area.

Take the web site for a spin and let me know what you think. Is this useful?

Mike

Writing and the Internet

One of the best known ways to engage students is to find something they enjoy doing and incorporate it into a lesson. If students identify with something that is being taught they tend to stay on task better and focus. Many students today are technology proficient and use several online applications to network socially and create material for their friends and family. Here is a nice article that explains how a teacher might incorporate these interests into their teaching.

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/197711

In this particular case, the emphasis is on using proper English for formal writing. On the internet it is easy for students to let their writing sometimes fall back to a casual style that works for informal communication but would not be considered acceptable for formal use.

Enjoy the article, let me know what you think and C U La8er.

Mike

Twitter Anyone?

We all know that people need interaction and I am pretty sure we all have read a little Dewey. Many people have condemned the technology age for pushing people further apart and interfering with this socialization like Putnam did in Bowling Alone. Well if you are of the school that fights fire with fire, I have something right up your alley.

Regardless of your personal teaching philosophy or the subject matter that you teach, you did not learn your trade in a vacuum without the help and guidance of at least a few other teachers. So how can we use technology to help us socialize and network with our peers? (pssst, don’t look but you are doing it now) .

Twitter just might be the tool to help you keep in touch and continue that all important networking. For those of you who have never heard of it. Twitter is an electronic networking system which is web based and free.

Because I was new to blogging, I poked around and found a great blog by guy named Byrne. He wrote a fabulous piece on teachers using Twitter and I encourage you to take a peek. I will warn you, his blog is addicting! http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2009/03/seven-ways-to-find-teachers-on-twitter.html

Let me know what you think,

Mike

IPods in class

Many instructors on different levels are constantly reminding students to put cell phones and Ipods away.

Here is a recent news article that is trying to have students use Ipods in the classroom.

Think about it, most students have them and are comfortable with them, can you use them to help you teach?

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/549863/

Enjoy,

Mike

Power to Learn

Technology skills in teaching seem to be a very personal thing to most instructors. Some of us find it second nature and others dread the thought of even checking E-mail. The phenomena of actual fear among my colleagues as it pertained to using technology struck me as odd at first.

Here is a college educated person, who puts themselves in a classroom everyday with a couple dozen students and performs magic; brought to their knees by a computer, a simple household item that most kids remember aways having!

But then I figured it out, we as a profession have a very strong dislike for NOT knowing something.

As we begin our journey out of the abyss, I thought our first stop should be to a web site (yes I thought it practical we actual use technology in our expedition J ). This site, Power to Learn is sponsored by Cablevision. I thought this would be a good place to start because how can we hate TV?

You will find a variety of very helpful items about teaching with technology on this site. If you are still a little queasy about the Internet a great article http://www.powertolearn.com/internet_smarts/index.shtml is a must read.

Let me know what you think!

Mike

My own sense of purpose has been enhanced greatly by teaching and if you are reading this you are either being forced to as part of an excellent class assignment or your own interest in teaching has provided a path for you to join me here. In either case please feel welcome and jump in at any point you care to.

Many people go into teaching to make a difference in the world. All of our real life heroes as well as our real life villains have in part, among other things, been the product of all of their teachers. If we stop and think of what that means it is amazing. Most of us who have dared to teach have experienced the moments of discovery that occur when their students “get it”. That look and that feeling alone is sometimes better then a paycheck.

As I was studying for my masters in education at the University of Central Florida, I was given a fabulous chance to teach at a local high school. The opportunity was greatly enhanced by the fact that I was given the gift of several experienced teachers as mentors. What I quickly found out was that many of our most tenured teachers were remarkably behind in their knowledge of how to apply technology in the classroom. While I was there I enjoyed many opportunities to learn, but some of the most fulfilling times were spent teaching the teachers.

I think that what propelled all this excitement was the realization that if I could change the world by teaching 100 students at a time, what would the possibilities be if I could teach something to 100 teachers who were then able to reach 100 students each? THAT my esteemed friends and colleagues, is changing the world!

So by coupling my loves of teaching and learning with my other loves of gadgetry and technology I launch this blog to;

• Help myself to learn more about the needs of classroom teachers on all levels
• Provide a place to meet friends and develop professional relationships
• Enhance the skills of educators
• And yes, in my very small way, change the world
  

Thanks for coming along for the ride out of the Abyss!

MJN