Blog Post 4

Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff Please by Scott McLeod

I don't agree with Dr. McLeod simply because he is wrong. I once thought he may be correct being from a small country town where everyone thinks small. Almost all the citizens are old and share Dr. McLeod's views because they are afraid of change. This type of thinking (technology is evil, keep it from your children) is oppressive, holds one back from excelling and maintains prehistoric thoughts. We must engage in and promote new technology or we will be asking other countries for food, shelter and clothing. You better believe that every country in the world has their kids on a technological path to success.

My Comment To Dr. McLeod

Dr. McLeod needs to wake up, get on the bus or get run over by it because the technological bus is at the station and ready to depart to a destination our children must seek to reach. We must teach our children to use technology in order to stay competitive in society.

Scott McLeod, J.D, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Educational Administration program at Iowa State University. He has received numerous awards for technology leadership work. Dr. McLeod is widely recognized as one of the nations leading academic experts on K-12 school technology leadership issues.

The iSchool Initiative

Does technology belong in our classrooms? Is iSchool the future have a place in our educational system? Travis promotes the use of the itouch instead of paper and pencil. I agree with hoim but we must educate teachers to use this technology. Most teachers today are older (waiting to enter the Drop Program) or simply lazy (they're tenured) and don't feel the need to learn about computers. I personally believe they are afraid to know less than their students.
Travis, new technology is needed in our schools to show other countries that we are intelligent and can compete in this 21st Century where you get right or get left out of the race to the top. The strongest point of all I received was the impact the use of itouch has on the environment. The use of this technology would eliminate the need for paper, pencils, plastic binders, etc. If we don't help save our environment, iSchools, eSchool or traditional schools will do us no good because we won't have a world in which to live.

You Can't Be My Teacher by Darren Cannell

This video was hilarious and very true. I sympathize with the little fellow. You can't possibly be my teacher if you expect to give me a book, cut the top of my head off, cram it full of information and burp me for the test. Students are stuffed into a desk, given a book while the teacher sits and goes to sleep only to awake when the bell sounds. "You Can't Possibly Be My Teacher." Can you use a computer? Have you been on Facebook or Twitter? What can you possibly teach me that will help me in this 21st Century high-tech age of learning? Are you preparing me for the world I am about to enter? That's Your Job.
Teachers let get on the ball. Little Darren was correct we have to relate to our students. Their goals, needs and future desires are ours to help them attain. Let's use the knowledge gained in EDM 310 and show these little ones that we are ready to be their teacher.

Virtual Choir by Eric Whitacre

This was the most dramatic use of the internet I have ever witnessed. This clearly shows what smarts and the use of technology can do. I actually saw this on channel 5. People and administrators always try to justify not using technology because of cost. This display of talent was dramatic and saved tons of money. All these students were assembled without the cost of travel, lodging, and time simply with the use of technology.
Eric has to be very intelligent because this was unheard of before this display of talent and expertise. Just image how many Eric's there are out there seeking a chance to display their talents. Teachers we need to promote the thoughts our students bring to class instead of feeling threatened because they have a idea we can't conceive.

Teaching In The 21st Century by Kevin Roberts

Teaching in the 21st Century requires creativity, and adjusting to the tools at our disposal. Long gone are the days of books and chalkboards. Children are engaging and seeking tools we never imagined would be used in education. Teachers and books are no longer the only sources of information for students. Curriculum is not only about facts and content.
Teachers, books, and curriculum are still important aspects of an education but computers are moving in to replace and speed up the access to information. Students can find limitless amounts of information and faster than ever before with technology.
We have to teach them what to do with this information when they find it. Things like validate, synthesis, communicate, and problem solving are skills the teacher can relay to students that go along with the vast amount of computer knowledge they have. Let the students be creative, sit back and watch we may even learn something from them.
If we don't teach them somebody else will and what they learn may not be good for their education or society. Our charge is to provide meaningful and powerful engagement. So let's be creative, take risks, collaborate and help become good teachers in the 21st century.