Blog Post #3

Peer Editing: Paige Ellis's Blog Assignment #12

Peer Editing has always been a topic that I've had trouble with. As a younger kid, it was always hard for me to critique myself, yet alone have my peers do it also. I was always afraid of failing, so I wanted everything that I wrote to be perfect. I would dread the days in class that we would have to peer edit. I would just cringe at every suggest or critique that my peers would make about my writing. Now that I am older, I've realized that peer editing is such a great tool that can be used in the classroom. It not only allows your peers to make suggestions on how to make your writing better so that you will do well in the future, but it can also allow the person that is editing to view examples of his/her classmate's work so that he/she may gain knowledge of certain writing techniques.

When I read my C4C Assignment #2, it wasn't very much I could critique. There were a few typos and run-on sentences, but I felt that the writer made her blog very personal and many people could relate. If I was to peer edit her blog, I would do so in an email because I feel as if the suggestions and critiques that I make should be kept private. I realize that, although I think peer editing is great now, some people may not feel the same way that I do. Certain people may feel embarrassed or become offended. Just so I could prevent a peer from feeling this way, I would choose to email. I believe the writer would be appreciative of this and once reading my suggestions, she would take the necessary steps to improve the mistakes in her writing.

It's Not About the Technology

I find Kelly Hines's post "It's Not about the Technology" to be a very refreshing take on the use of technology in the classroom. Hines believes that even though technology is very important in this fast-paced society that we live, it is not the be-all and end-all to teaching 21st century students. Hines believes that are four things teachers much recognize in order to impact and help their students move in the right direction. The four points are as follows: teachers must be learners; learning and teaching are not the same thing; technology is useless without good teaching; be a 21st century teacher without the technology.

I remember the second or third time meeting in EDM 310 class, Dr. Strange asked us did we think it was necessary for teachers to be technologically literate? One student answered that every should be technology literate, but not dependent. This goes back to what Kelly Hines said about the fact that technology is useless without good teaching. Technology has become such a huge part of our lives that many teachers depend entirely too much upon it. There is nothing wrong with presenting a lecture in a powerpoint presentation or slideshow, but what if the computer was to crash? Teachers should still know how to teach without solely relying on technology as a means to do so. Technology should be an accessory, not a necessity. I also feel as if teachers should be perpetual learners. You can never stop learning, and I believe there will never be a point in a person's life where they will know EVERYTHING. New ideas are being developed everyday and it should be the goal of every teacher to seek out new information that will be helpful in teaching his/her students.

Is it Okay to be a Technology Illiterate Teacher?

Karl Fisch writes numerous interesting points in his blog post "Is it Okay to be a Technology Illiterate Teacher? and gets many of us to thinking, is it really okay? Fisch talks about the fact that all of teachers today should have basic knowledge of technology and utilize it in the classroom. Fisch compares technological literacy to knowing how to read and write. I honestly thought to myself, is he really serious? Of course everyone knows that technology is advancing exponentially in today's world, but is it really as important as knowing how to read and write? I agree and disagree. I believe that in order for teachers to better prepare their students for life in the future, we should provide them with a basic understanding of different types of technology and its uses. Teachers should stress that the more knowledge that they have about it, the more successful they will be in getting a job.

Although almost all new teachers coming into the field are well versed in computers and technology, many who have been teaching for decades chose to stick to the fundamentals of teaching. Yes, I believe it is important for these teachers to at least know how to work a computer, but is it the end of the world if they don't? No. Students will still receive a great education from a teacher who is well qualified but doesn't chose to use all the bells and whistles. Just because an older teacher doesn't know all there is to know about technology, doesn't mean that his/her students are getting any less of an education. Technology is awesome, but having a great teacher who can motivate a student to learn whether its with the use of technology or not, is even better!

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

My eyes could not stop staring at the numbers on the screen when I watched Gary Hayes Social Media Count. I mean wow! It is truly unreal. As a student in EDM 310 I am continuously being told how important technology and the media is, but to have it shown to me in that sort of way is truly an eyes opener. Every second, the number of items shared on Facebook, or the number of tweets being sent on Twitter, were tripling, even quadrupling. It is amazing how these social media outlets are such a global phenomenon and how it allows you to connect to so many people around the world.

Having Dr. Strange and Dr. Baggett as teachers this semester has really given me a new outlook on how I use the internet as a means of networking. Before, I only used Facebook and Twitter as a means of personal entertainment. However, in the last few weeks I've learned just how important it will be for my professional career in the future. There's so much to learn out there, and with the use of the internet, knowledge is right at my fingertips! If I had questions about a certain topic that I was teaching, I could use Twitter as a way to get an answer. I could gather all different ideas and opinions from people all around the world. It is absolutely amazing to me! These social media tools have opened new doors for teachers now and in the future, and will allow us to learn so many new ideas. And in return, we will be able to share that with our students.

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

Michael Wesch's video "A Vision of Students Today" was very moving. Being a student, I could relate to it in so many ways. Many students are not focused, and simply waste their money on tuition paying for classes that, 50% of the time, they will not attend. Why is that? Because many students are bored and unmotivated by a professor sitting and lecturing them for one hour. When I first entered college, I was exactly that type of student. I had so much on my plate, and college was so overwhelming to me. I'd rather focus on things that I was interested in, rather than sit and listen to a teacher talk about something that I would not remember after I took the test anyway. Many students spend more time on the internet and watching TV than they do studying. Wesch shows a different point of view on students in the classroom. He gives them a voice and an opportunity to explain what they really think.

At the end of the video, Wesch suggests that technology may be the answer to these problems. I am sort of on the fence about this theory. I believe that students are much more interested in class when different kinds of technology are used, simply because it is something that the students of today are more familiar with and find more engaging. However, the students still have to be motivated to learn. This is, in part, up to the professors. This video can give different teachers and school staff and opportunity to evaluate what is really going on in the classroom. If they know these things, they should try new approaches in order to help to alleviate these problems. I am not saying it is their sole responsibility, but if many teachers know that there methods are ineffective, shouldn't they take the necessary steps in order to improve? I think so. Many professors should take their teaching and view it from the students point of view. Teach the material in a way that the students can relate to, and make it interactive. These issues are ones that will not change overnight, but I believe that it is a joint effort. I hope that in the future when I become a teacher, the beliefs and opinions of students like the ones in this video, will have changed and a new outlook on education will have been created.