These were very thought-provoking articles. What I also really appreciated was seeing in print the very questionable aspects I already held (to whatever degree). In other words, I'm not crazy.
I did keep in mind the dates of the articles. I tended to temper things from the 1997 article with thoughts of "Oh, yah, but I gotta remember this was (almost) three presidents ago?
But then the quiet little voice gently interrupted with, "Isn't it interesting how the subject remains, regardless of it being eleven years later?"
The question of education's quality is larger than the tools it uses. It matters not if we are talking about a blue-backed speller or a computer.
Reflective paper ideas:
fostering of critical thinking
responsibility--both educators' and students'
role of computers compared to art, music, gym, etc.
elementary vs. high school: what type of computer use
common sense and real-world problem solving
quality teachers
flash-in-the-pan tech tools
computers and test scores: are they really friends?
physical vs. virtual projects
visual vs. kinetic learning
broad-base education: what is the computer's place?
real-world vs. virtual world intelligence
to what degree is the virtual world also the real world?
A point to consider in the midst of all of this is that the world is changing, no matter what our thoughts on technology are. Schools are reflected(ing) in this changing world, no matter how we feel about it. Let's remember to keep teaching with quality, no matter the current argument or outcome: that is how to best help our students.
It's about the people, people.
1 comment:
Great thoughts! Yes, I apologize some the articles are old. I tried very hard to update them, but nobody save one has published anything that questions the use of technology. Why? There is a paper there, too.
Your ideas are super - intriguing to me especially are how computers could be tailored to the age and physical vs. virtual projects. Some would say there isn't any difference.
I also agree that media specialists are in a unique position to offer perspective on technology as lovers of it for the most part. It is okay to not jump on every techno gizmo as this helps us be better stewards of the district's money and the students' attention. Questioning why and how technology helps the people I think is not only valid but lacking. Kudos to you for your reflections!
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