As educators in the 21st century we tread a precarious line when it comes to technology. No one can argue that we should ignore this force that is so important to the lives of our students. Rather than be afraid of how technology can harm education-- how it will rot brains or replace teachers with robots-- we should ask how we can effectively use technology for our purposes. There are certainly subject areas and times that technology would be inefficient as a tool, but at the same time it is a great platform for teaching in different formats (audio, video, interactive, text-based), allowing you to cater to multiple types of learners with relative ease. The question with technology is when will it be effective and efficient--when does it enhance what I'm trying to convey?
I agree with Mike Palmquist that technology is an opportunity for teachers. However, I have seen some of the downsides of technology as well. My high school implemented a laptop program where every student received a laptop for the school year. It brought new challenges to the teachers and administration with students going on illegal websites, illegal downloads, and the fact that students oftentimes were completely distracted surfing the web and not paying attention to what was going on in the classroom. I see technology more as a tool that can allow teachers to find new and creative ways to connect their students with the content. I do not feel that it is something that should be used all of the time. -Rachel Sherman
Technology is no panacea... but let me spell check that was very interesting to me because I never thought as technology as something that should be studied rather than just a tool to use in a classroom. I thought the article brought up a good point about teachers being aware that not all students are privileged enough to have the most advanced technologies or technology at all; while, on the other hand there are students who have access to all the latest technologies. The "Wikipedia" article on TPCK was somewhat difficult for me understand the first read through. I think I understood it to be the idea combines content knowledge, pedagogy knowledge, and technology knowledge in order for teachers to fully understand the uses of technology. Therefore, the teachers will be able to integrate technology in their classrooms more effectively.
"Today, an "essay" can include images, audio, and video as easily as written words, and it can be turned in to a teacher and also published on the Web, in a Blog, or as an e-mail attachment." I suppose intrinsically, Palmquist is correct about this. The concept of 'text' is radically redefining itself in context to technology. However, never in my experience have I been permitted to turn in a flash drive to my teacher as the hard copy of my "essay." I suppose I'm old-school enough where as a teacher I will still expect hard copies of papers from my students. I'm a huge fan of the computer and an avid surfer of the Web, but I feel like that's something for myself and my students to explore in our free time or a class specific to technology, not English class. That is not to say I completely shun the use of technology in the classroom, but I'm not sure it is fair to expect or demand students to rely on it to complete assignments, as there is not equal access to technology depending on socio-economic status nor do all students have the same skill level in using it. Beyond what is taught in class, some students pick up computing tricks that give them a far greater advantage over the oter students. Is it fair to compare an "essay" that has text, images, and video to that of a student who perhaps only knows how to insert a picture on the page? (Morgan Baxter)
It is obvious that Palmquist is very passionate about technology. I agree with him in that technology has, for the most part, positively enhanced teaching methods. I think the programs that analyze texts for plagiarism are very useful tools for teachers. I also think that allowing kids to add images and videos to their assignments will make them more motivated and interested in the project.
However, as Palmquist pointed out in his article, many challenges arise when using technology with students of varying socioeconomic realms. I came from a high school where not all students had a home computer (or even television, for that matter). Techologically savvy students have a clear academic advantage if the classroom is technologically-centered. The kids that don't have access to technology are slower when they do have to do computer projects, fall behind, and end up making worse grades. Not only did I see this at my high school, but I worked with a local Charlottesville high schooler, Vince, last year through a tutoring program. Vince had absolutely no comptuer knowledge. He didn't have access to a home computer and his teachers had no given him instruction or class time to work on computer assignments. So I sat with him at his church one night for four hours trying to teach him how to use Excel because he needed typed charts, etc for a science project. He was so frustrated that he didn't know how to do research, that he couldn't type, and that he couldn't master basic computer skills. It took him MUCH longer than his peers to do the assignment, not because of lack of ability or intelligence, but lack of privileged access to computers. So that is my real worry about technology in the classroom - a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.
In Mike Palmquist's article, "Technology is no Panacea...but let me spell check that." he discusses both the virtues and the vices of the onset of the technological age and its implications in the classroom. I completely agree with him that technology is not the end all, be all of the educational system. However, with each day that goes by, new and exciting technological advances are being made that can help to offer a wide variety of new methods for teaching. Technology is not to replace the teacher, but rather to be used as a professional tool to help improve the learning experience of both the student and the teacher. At the same time, there is a wide disparity between those students and school systems who have a plethora of technological tools, and those who cannot afford them. We need to consider the availability of such tools similarly to the availability of books. Technology, like literacy, can be the determining factor for which doors may open and which doors may close on the students as they grow and pursue a life after school. -Jamie Hyatt
There is a precarious balance to all things technological: students have varying degrees of technological exposure; technology can aid a classroom or overwhelm it; and technology has even transformed the age old assignments like papers and homework. Finding that balance is crucial for any teacher of any level and any subject - it is what makes or breaks a curriculum and it is what defines technology as the master or servant of the teacher. There will never be a time when technology alone outperforms a well-trained teacher, thus it is our duty to define technology in the classroom as it ought to be: as a tool.
Technology is something that you can not do without in your everyday life, and this is getting truer by the day. Therefore, as educators, we need to use technology as a teaching tool, and use it wisely. Nevertheless, it can in no way replace teachers, as technology by itself does not provide much flexibility for learning, especially to the specific needs of a child, the way a teacher does. Moreover, children are curious and tend to figure things out on their own, and they will learn ways to use technology without the help of their teacher –most likely in terms that are not always beneficial to them- but surely when they are guided, children are able to use these tools in better and more desirable ways. If the teacher uses the TPCK concept, that is.
I think the point of this article is that teachers shouldnt be afraid or over-rely on technology, but use it as the incredibly helpful tool that it is. Technology is at a point now where it is relatively reliable, and it is something students are becoming more and more familiar with, so using it could be a way for teachers to connect with their students.
I agree with Palmquist's idea of technology. It has the capability of vastly improving education, but we must still be a little wary of all of the new innovations. Rather than worrying about replacing teachers, we need to worry about how to best use technology in a way to improve everyone's experience in the classroom as a whole.
As the article states, technology does not serve as a "cure all" for the many challenges which education attempts to meet but can be used as a means to facilitate and enhance children's acquisition of abstract concepts. I agree with technology's utilization; however one of the most interesting topics Palmquist raises is the issue of the varying degrees of student accees to technology. WIll the continued or enhanced use of technology in the classroom serve as an additional means to solidify and potentiall exaggerate socio-economic differences? I definitely agree that utilization of technology in the classroom would provide equal opportunity, but at some point (and in many schools this has already occurred) its use will extend past school hours. Without a simple answer, I feel this is one of the most prominent questions which need to be evaluated in considering the use of technology in the classroom. Undoubedtly technology can significantly enchance a student's education, but for some its absence will produce an equally negative effect.
Palmquist makes interesting observations about the use of technology in education. I think that in our 21st century classrooms technology comes with the territory just as much as desks and chairs. I don't think that one needs to necessarily be a proponent of technology because it is present everywhere. However, educators should make the effort to effectively use technology.
Technology can be very useful in the classroom. It should neither be too heavily relied on nor should it be neglected completely. However, technology, as Palmquist notes, is an opportunity. It just ought to be used wisely. Furthermore, Palmquist fails to note one thing...the use of technology in the classroom could make learning more fun for your students!
Mike Palmquist states at the end of his article: "Technology is no panacea....We must study it carefully, consider its implications fully, design our courses with those implications in mind, and use it as wisely as we can." He is right in his assumption that technology is not a cure-all for education, but it does indeed vastly improve upon and enhance the educational experience of both students and educators. However, a large problem lies in the rapid evolution of technologies and the ability of educators to keep up with and utilize those techologies. Our world is becoming increasingly technologically-driven--children are coming into classrooms with sometimes as much internet-based knowledge as teachers. Thus, it is absolutely essential for future educatiors to orient themselves with these changing technologies and integrate them into the classroom.
With today's advanced level of technology, teachers can worry less about whether or not a program or device will work and think more about what they can (and cannot) do with it. It is up to teachers to be well-informed about both the benefits and drawbacks of technological tools and make the right calls. Like Mike Palmquist said, "Educational technology has sometimes been applied in ways that are anything but wise" - but we can choose to be smart about technology.
Technology in the classroom usually frustrates me. I've been in so many classes where students use tech problems as an excuse for not doing/presenting work, where teachers can't get the technology they need to function and have no back up plan (at least no good back up plan), etc. I guess for these reasons I'm wary of using technology in the classroom. But I agree with Palmquist's basic idea that when used appropriately, technology can be extremely useful.
I agreed with a lot of what the article said. I especially believe that teachers should explore the use of technology in their curriculums as a teaching tool, but not base their lesson plans on them. I also agree with what the author said about the unfairness for some students who aren't as accustomed to using technology. There needs to be a strong basis of technology teaching in school systems before teachers expect their students to understand how to work with technology in depth.
As educators in the 21st century we tread a precarious line when it comes to technology. No one can argue that we should ignore this force that is so important to the lives of our students. Rather than be afraid of how technology can harm education-- how it will rot brains or replace teachers with robots-- we should ask how we can effectively use technology for our purposes. There are certainly subject areas and times that technology would be inefficient as a tool, but at the same time it is a great platform for teaching in different formats (audio, video, interactive, text-based), allowing you to cater to multiple types of learners with relative ease. The question with technology is when will it be effective and efficient--when does it enhance what I'm trying to convey?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike Palmquist that technology is an opportunity for teachers. However, I have seen some of the downsides of technology as well. My high school implemented a laptop program where every student received a laptop for the school year. It brought new challenges to the teachers and administration with students going on illegal websites, illegal downloads, and the fact that students oftentimes were completely distracted surfing the web and not paying attention to what was going on in the classroom. I see technology more as a tool that can allow teachers to find new and creative ways to connect their students with the content. I do not feel that it is something that should be used all of the time.
ReplyDelete-Rachel Sherman
Technology is no panacea... but let me spell check that was very interesting to me because I never thought as technology as something that should be studied rather than just a tool to use in a classroom. I thought the article brought up a good point about teachers being aware that not all students are privileged enough to have the most advanced technologies or technology at all; while, on the other hand there are students who have access to all the latest technologies. The "Wikipedia" article on TPCK was somewhat difficult for me understand the first read through. I think I understood it to be the idea combines content knowledge, pedagogy knowledge, and technology knowledge in order for teachers to fully understand the uses of technology. Therefore, the teachers will be able to integrate technology in their classrooms more effectively.
ReplyDelete"Today, an "essay" can include images, audio, and video as easily as written words, and it can be turned in to a teacher and also published on the Web, in a Blog, or as an e-mail attachment."
ReplyDeleteI suppose intrinsically, Palmquist is correct about this. The concept of 'text' is radically redefining itself in context to technology. However, never in my experience have I been permitted to turn in a flash drive to my teacher as the hard copy of my "essay." I suppose I'm old-school enough where as a teacher I will still expect hard copies of papers from my students. I'm a huge fan of the computer and an avid surfer of the Web, but I feel like that's something for myself and my students to explore in our free time or a class specific to technology, not English class. That is not to say I completely shun the use of technology in the classroom, but I'm not sure it is fair to expect or demand students to rely on it to complete assignments, as there is not equal access to technology depending on socio-economic status nor do all students have the same skill level in using it. Beyond what is taught in class, some students pick up computing tricks that give them a far greater advantage over the oter students. Is it fair to compare an "essay" that has text, images, and video to that of a student who perhaps only knows how to insert a picture on the page? (Morgan Baxter)
It is obvious that Palmquist is very passionate about technology. I agree with him in that technology has, for the most part, positively enhanced teaching methods. I think the programs that analyze texts for plagiarism are very useful tools for teachers. I also think that allowing kids to add images and videos to their assignments will make them more motivated and interested in the project.
ReplyDeleteHowever, as Palmquist pointed out in his article, many challenges arise when using technology with students of varying socioeconomic realms. I came from a high school where not all students had a home computer (or even television, for that matter). Techologically savvy students have a clear academic advantage if the classroom is technologically-centered. The kids that don't have access to technology are slower when they do have to do computer projects, fall behind, and end up making worse grades. Not only did I see this at my high school, but I worked with a local Charlottesville high schooler, Vince, last year through a tutoring program. Vince had absolutely no comptuer knowledge. He didn't have access to a home computer and his teachers had no given him instruction or class time to work on computer assignments. So I sat with him at his church one night for four hours trying to teach him how to use Excel because he needed typed charts, etc for a science project. He was so frustrated that he didn't know how to do research, that he couldn't type, and that he couldn't master basic computer skills. It took him MUCH longer than his peers to do the assignment, not because of lack of ability or intelligence, but lack of privileged access to computers. So that is my real worry about technology in the classroom - a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots.
In Mike Palmquist's article, "Technology is no Panacea...but let me spell check that." he discusses both the virtues and the vices of the onset of the technological age and its implications in the classroom. I completely agree with him that technology is not the end all, be all of the educational system. However, with each day that goes by, new and exciting technological advances are being made that can help to offer a wide variety of new methods for teaching. Technology is not to replace the teacher, but rather to be used as a professional tool to help improve the learning experience of both the student and the teacher. At the same time, there is a wide disparity between those students and school systems who have a plethora of technological tools, and those who cannot afford them. We need to consider the availability of such tools similarly to the availability of books. Technology, like literacy, can be the determining factor for which doors may open and which doors may close on the students as they grow and pursue a life after school.
ReplyDelete-Jamie Hyatt
There is a precarious balance to all things technological: students have varying degrees of technological exposure; technology can aid a classroom or overwhelm it; and technology has even transformed the age old assignments like papers and homework. Finding that balance is crucial for any teacher of any level and any subject - it is what makes or breaks a curriculum and it is what defines technology as the master or servant of the teacher. There will never be a time when technology alone outperforms a well-trained teacher, thus it is our duty to define technology in the classroom as it ought to be: as a tool.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is something that you can not do without in your everyday life, and this is getting truer by the day. Therefore, as educators, we need to use technology as a teaching tool, and use it wisely.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, it can in no way replace teachers, as technology by itself does not provide much flexibility for learning, especially to the specific needs of a child, the way a teacher does. Moreover, children are curious and tend to figure things out on their own, and they will learn ways to use technology without the help of their teacher –most likely in terms that are not always beneficial to them- but surely when they are guided, children are able to use these tools in better and more desirable ways. If the teacher uses the TPCK concept, that is.
I think the point of this article is that teachers shouldnt be afraid or over-rely on technology, but use it as the incredibly helpful tool that it is. Technology is at a point now where it is relatively reliable, and it is something students are becoming more and more familiar with, so using it could be a way for teachers to connect with their students.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Palmquist's idea of technology. It has the capability of vastly improving education, but we must still be a little wary of all of the new innovations. Rather than worrying about replacing teachers, we need to worry about how to best use technology in a way to improve everyone's experience in the classroom as a whole.
ReplyDeleteAs the article states, technology does not serve as a "cure all" for the many challenges which education attempts to meet but can be used as a means to facilitate and enhance children's acquisition of abstract concepts. I agree with technology's utilization; however one of the most interesting topics Palmquist raises is the issue of the varying degrees of student accees to technology. WIll the continued or enhanced use of technology in the classroom serve as an additional means to solidify and potentiall exaggerate socio-economic differences? I definitely agree that utilization of technology in the classroom would provide equal opportunity, but at some point (and in many schools this has already occurred) its use will extend past school hours. Without a simple answer, I feel this is one of the most prominent questions which need to be evaluated in considering the use of technology in the classroom. Undoubedtly technology can significantly enchance a student's education, but for some its absence will produce an equally negative effect.
ReplyDeletePalmquist makes interesting observations about the use of technology in education. I think that in our 21st century classrooms technology comes with the territory just as much as desks and chairs. I don't think that one needs to necessarily be a proponent of technology because it is present everywhere. However, educators should make the effort to effectively use technology.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be very useful in the classroom. It should neither be too heavily relied on nor should it be neglected completely. However, technology, as Palmquist notes, is an opportunity. It just ought to be used wisely. Furthermore, Palmquist fails to note one thing...the use of technology in the classroom could make learning more fun for your students!
ReplyDeleteMike Palmquist states at the end of his article: "Technology is no panacea....We must study it carefully, consider its implications fully, design our courses with those implications in mind, and use it as wisely as we can." He is right in his assumption that technology is not a cure-all for education, but it does indeed vastly improve upon and enhance the educational experience of both students and educators. However, a large problem lies in the rapid evolution of technologies and the ability of educators to keep up with and utilize those techologies. Our world is becoming increasingly technologically-driven--children are coming into classrooms with sometimes as much internet-based knowledge as teachers. Thus, it is absolutely essential for future educatiors to orient themselves with these changing technologies and integrate them into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteWith today's advanced level of technology, teachers can worry less about whether or not a program or device will work and think more about what they can (and cannot) do with it. It is up to teachers to be well-informed about both the benefits and drawbacks of technological tools and make the right calls. Like Mike Palmquist said, "Educational technology has sometimes been applied in ways that are anything but wise" - but we can choose to be smart about technology.
ReplyDeleteTechnology in the classroom usually frustrates me. I've been in so many classes where students use tech problems as an excuse for not doing/presenting work, where teachers can't get the technology they need to function and have no back up plan (at least no good back up plan), etc. I guess for these reasons I'm wary of using technology in the classroom. But I agree with Palmquist's basic idea that when used appropriately, technology can be extremely useful.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with a lot of what the article said. I especially believe that teachers should explore the use of technology in their curriculums as a teaching tool, but not base their lesson plans on them. I also agree with what the author said about the unfairness for some students who aren't as accustomed to using technology. There needs to be a strong basis of technology teaching in school systems before teachers expect their students to understand how to work with technology in depth.
ReplyDelete