Did You Know? Video
The first version of the Did You Know video that I saw was a different version than this one by Karl Fisch. Most of the information was the same but just like last time, the part that impacted me most was the rate at which technology is expected to grow in the next few years. The fact that said "the amount of technical information is doubling every two years" is hard to imagine. It seems like no one could ever truly be technologically literate without spending all day everyday learning everything there is to know about technology. The other fact about computers eventually being more intelligent than the human race is scary. If computers are capable of being more intelligent, how will we ever learn everything we're supposed to know about them?
I think the most important thing, as future teachers, that we have to do, is keep an open mind to technology. Maybe countries like China and India are passing Americans in intelligence are because they are more open to new technology. I agree that technologically literate means different things in different situations. I also think that while teachers may not always be technologically literate, they should be aware that there is always more to learn. If we have to teach our students to be prepared for technology that isn't even invented yet, shouldn't we be able to do the same thing?
Mr. Winkle Wakes Video
I thought the video Mr. Winkle Wakes made a good point. It was interesting to take the point of view of someone who has been asleep for 100 years. I think this showed that teachers and schools are not keeping up with technology the way they should. It makes me wonder where the people who work with advanced technology learned how to do their jobs.
Part of me feels like schools aren't given enough funds to keep up with technology so some of it isn't their fault. However, teachers should always try to find creative ways to expose their students to new things so that they'll at least be prepared for how to handle something new.
When I work on my computer, I just click around until I get where I want to be. When my dad is trying to help me, we get frustrated with each other because he wants to read everything and weigh each option to find the next step. I feel like he takes too long but he says this happens because when it comes to technology, my generation is fearless. I don't think that is entirely true but I am definitely more comfortable with technology than my parents are.
There is no way to teach students about something that hasn't been invented yet. Once again, I believe that the best thing a teacher can do, is prepare his or her students to be able to learn how to handle any new technology. The more comfortable the teacher is with learning new things, the better the students will feel about taking on technology that hasn't been invented yet!
The Importance of Creativity
"Creativity is as important, in education, as literacy." As soon as I heard this from Sir Ken Robinson in his talk about The Importance of Creativity I felt immediately like it is something I should keep in mind for the rest of my life. I love the idea that art and dance and music are all held with the same regard as math and science. Because really, shouldn't children who flourish in reading, writing, and arithmetic be thought of as just as capable as students who succeed in more creative areas of school.
I found this video very entertaining and also thought it was a wonderful argument for the fact that teachers should nurture students' creative inclinations instead of forcing them to fit into society's view of a "good student." Of course, this is always easier said than done. It takes a special kind of teacher to bring out the strengths in every student he or she comes across. For some kids, it is easy to succeed in math and art. For others, it isn't as easy to find a part of school they can do well in and enjoy.
The only thing I would have liked to see included in this presentation is a way to help teachers find a better way to help kids. I was completely convinced that Sir Ken Robinson was right about everything he said concerning creativity in schools but I need some tips on how to be that kind of teacher!
Harness Your Students' Digital Faults
I think Vicki Davis is an excellent example of a teacher I would consider technologically literate. Even though she doesn't know everything about technology, she is open to learning new things. Her classroom seemed like a place where students could easily have access to learning how to be comfortable with using new technology. I liked that she said her students actually taught her something new. She doesn't expect her students to know everything. She doesn't even expect herself to know everything. An effective teacher is one who can admit there is always more to learn.
The edutopia website seemed like it had some great tips on how to incorporate technology into everyday classroom activities. My mom is a teacher. So, every time I learn something new for a class, I share it with her in hopes of helping her to become a more technologically literate teacher. Plus, I want to see what works with her students and what doesn't. Its amazing what teachers can produce when they work together and share new teaching techniques with each other. Some of the things I've learned in my education classes that I've shared with my mom, she's turned around and shared with the teachers at her school. I hope that in having access to teachers around the world, we can open our minds to learning different ways to enable our students to be technologically literate as well.
In your first paragraph you pose an interesting question which you then answer in part in later paragraphs.
ReplyDelete(The other fact about computers eventually being more intelligent than the human race is scary. If computers are capable of being more intelligent, how will we ever learn everything we're supposed to know about them?)
We don't need to know everything there is to know about a car in order to make it function.
What is intelligence? Is it the ability to retain facts? Is it the ability to reason?
When a computer is exposed to information it can immediately retain that information - without thought or understanding. But will it learn to retain only correct information or will it retain false information or opinion as well? How will it apply knowledge? Will it be intuitive - how intuitive? Will it's intuition lead to false conclusions?
For instance, tivo may ascertain that you prefer movies starring a particular actress and provide a list of all movies with that particular actress. But what if that actress, in her early career, was a porn star? Will it therefore list porn movies in which you have no interest?
A wise leader surrounds him or herself with assistants who are more knowledgeable and intelligent than he is. No one can know it all - especially if "all" is constantly changing - and changing quickly. Won't we use computers in the same way? As tools to access specific information we need to know?
What about emotion? Humans use emotion in making decisions that a computer might reject because it cannot come to an illogical conclusion. A person dives into a raging current to try and rescue another. Logic might dictate that the odds are that the effort will likely result in failure to complete the rescue and even cost the life of the rescuer. The human might defy logic because of emotion while a computer would not because pure logic dictates it's choices.
We will continue to use computers to our advantage. Will they use us to their advantage? Will they do it with our permission - or without our permission. Will we learn to harness the intelligence and knowledge to our benefit without mistake? Given that the human experiment demonstrates that we cannot do anything without the likelihood of mistake it seems doubtful.
As humans we are subject to Pavlovian responses. Our cell phone rings and we are inclined to answer it regardless of circumstances. Can we be trained by computers to a Pavlovian response?
At present we are hard pressed to know what questions to ask. Will computer technology lead us to a greater ability to understand what questions we need to ask?
Maybe the best the average person can hope for is that our personal computers will learn how to fix themselves. Mine knows some things about that but is sorely deficient in areas in which I am also deficient. That's what I want. A computer that can fix itself. When is that due?
Barry
Great job! I agree with you when you said an important thing we need to do as future teachers is to keep an open mind to technology. I've never thought of using technology in a classroom for small children. After watching these videos, my eyes have been opened! Thank you for your input!
ReplyDeleteTyler,
ReplyDeleteI agree that many schools aren't given the funds for technology in the classroom. I think many people forget this aspect quite frequently. I also agree though that teachers should find other creative ways to teach students. I personally do not learn when a teacher merely lectures. I have to be engaged.
Also, I think our generation can figure things out better because we are more open to change. We are willing to explore and learn things on our own. I also get frustrated with my mother, who doesn't even know how to get online. It is important for us to have patience when teaching and be willing to learn.