Reflecting on Digital Media

This week in class, we used different digital media's to enhance the learning process.  First we watched videos and took graphic notes and then posted our thoughts in a group wiki.

As a student, watching the video gave a different perspective.  It was refreshing to see other opinions and speakers provide information in digital media besides the teacher.  It reinforces the concepts learned in class.  As a teacher, I could use this media to enhance the learning of my class.  By providing videos to have the students watch will give the students different perspectives, both for and against the topic that I may be teaching.  It allows the student to see all sides of an argument and use facts to form opinions based upon the information that they are being exposed to.  I think that this type of teaching/learning allows students think and process information instead of memorizing information.  It opens up the mind to different opinions and facilitates conversations.  The difficulties may be having the student look at it objectively and allow themselves to see other standpoints and views besides their own.  In addition, the students age would come into play.  Younger students may not understand the benefit of this process as older students could.

The graphic organizer was a great idea.  It allowed the student to know what the focus of the video was by directing their attention to certain topics.  The graphic notes required the student to listen carefully and be aware of what was being said.  This can be a great tool in the classroom for a teacher but should be used with caution.  The upside is that the teacher would know the student is paying attention so that they can get the information for the notes.  However, the downside is that the student's focus is in the notes and not entirely on what is being said.  Some students would use the graphic notes as an assignment, trying to get the information that they think the teacher wants instead of listening for what may be interesting to them or makes them think.

The wiki process is very new to me, however, the concept is very interesting and could be used in many subjects.  As a student, it was fascinating to place my assignment in a place that other students in my class could see it.  As a teacher, this would facilitate conversation between students if the students actually read each other's wiki's.  Instead of students preparing an assignment for the teacher, it is prepared essentially for the whole class.  This broadens the students audience and would facilitate more expressive or creative writing in order for the student to present his/her position on the topic.  As a teacher, this could be a great tool to use in a Social Studies or Science lesson, creating entries and allowing students to make updates as they learn in grow in the subject.  The advantage is giving the students tools to think and create critically, instead of regurgitating information they are creating information that would be beneficial to them.  The disadvantage would be students seeing this as a way to slack, especially if group work was required, since someone in the group would always want to do the best job and the other's in the group may slack in their effort.

These media's were interesting and thought-provoking, giving me ideas on how to incorporate these into my classroom.  Trial and error would have to be used so that I could make the most efficient use of these tools, but these tools would be a great advantage in the learning process, for both me and my students. 

Shift Happens......

Wow.  Shift Happens.  I watched all 4 videos posted on the Shift Happens wiki.  The videos gave me goose bumps.  The numbers and figures that were showed were mind-blowing.  Even though it had terrible music, the original video was my favorite (posted below).  What a great delivery system to get people thinking.  Take the largest video website and post a video that makes you think instead of the millions of other videos that just make you laugh or shake your head in disbelief.  This is a person who understand the power of the internet and the tool it can play in expanding our thinking.

Several numbers really made me think.  Most would be blown away by the technology numbers of texts, online media, advertisements, etc (they were very interesting, but expected).  I was not.  What blew me away were the educational numbers: 

• The number of honor students in India outnumbers the number of total students in the US. 
• Nintendo spent $140 million on research and development in 2006; the US government spent less than half that on education
• What we are teaching students today in college will be outdated by their third year in college
• The largest English speaking country by 2016 will be China

I have known for many years that the educational system is underfunded and outdated, but these videos just brought that point home so much stronger.  It brought up so many more questions for me than it answered.  Why does the US not give a higher prioity to education?  Why are school's so antiquated with technology?  Granted, when I was in a classroom, computers were non-existent, but in today's environment, there should be a way that school's can intergrate computer literacy with education.  I know some school's can and do, but it seems that we are getting behind the eight ball even further.  If technology can grow exponentially, why can't education?

I can ask questions all day and voice my opinion and nothing will matter.  What matters is now that I know, I can make changes.  As a future teacher, I understand the pace in which world is evolving and I need to be prepared to evolve with it or I will become outdated and antiquated.  As a teacher, I will intergrate education and technology and do my best to educate children for the 21st century.  I remember from my childhood days G.I. Joe would always say, "And knowing is half the battle."  Well, now I know.

Original "Shift Happens" video:

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