Welcome to the Podcast Industry...

This semester I'm experiencing many firsts. I just recently bought my first laptop. This edm class is the first time I've heard of a smartboard, and now I've downloaded my first podcast. I'm ashamed, given that I've owned an ipod for a little over 3 years now. I enjoyed listening to the podcasts, and more so, I appreciate what I've learned from them. I've come to the realization that I have been out of the loop, I'm not up to date on a lot of the things that I should be, and I'm very excited to begin my journey of knowledge. (Technological literacy, here I come!)

I'm very new to terms like audio conferencing and video podcasting, but what I failed to realize before now is that my students are going to be so conditioned to these terms, the newness that I see will be invisible to them. Wikis to them will be like chalkboards were for me. Staying a step ahead or even just in step with our students will earn their respect, I believe, for they will see that we are reaching out for that connection that we might only be able to accomplish through the use of technology.

Listening to the podcasts put me out of my traditional comfort zone but made me feel good to know that I was on my way to catching up to the rest of the world. I don't want to find myself being a Mr. Winkle and holding students back because I can't connect with what they're talking about. It's absurd to think that a third grader can become frustrated with me because I'm not following what he's saying about the new book he read on his kindle.

It's amazing the amount of information available to us. People are taking the initiative to share what they know, and syndicated media is booming. I would say that I can't believe what all is out there, but I really can! The 6 podcasts we listened to this week for class opened my eyes to what all is available for us. I never would have listened to a show dedicated to photography, and I never would have heard the (interesting) topic of the photo discrimination lawsuit.

I'm pleased to announce I'm a new fan of podcasts, and I can't wait to see what all I can find for myself and share with others.

Technological Illiteracy... probably not a good thing

Michael Wesch has made a video giving us a broad view of college students today. Students today are busy multitasking... texting, twittering, facebooking, blogging, emailing, taking notes, and all while listening to their ipod. It's hard to define a typical student anymore. People of all ages and all backgrounds are walking around campuses, changing their paths, their lives. One thing that is similar across the board is technology is in our face, and there's no way of turning our back to it. Technology is fun, interesting, and always being updated. There's something for everyone in my opinion, and the search is the best part!

Kelly Hines suggests that it's not all about the technology... We keep shouting technology! technology! but what are these teachers doing with it? If the new age ideas are in the hands of old thinking, nothing will blossom. There are so many tools available to us through the use of technology. But where is the instruction? How is what is being taught being taught?? Are we as teachers challenging our students? Are we preparing these students for the forward thinking they will be required to use to be able to be successful citizens? I think we need to focus more on learning ourselves...learning from our students and sharing with them what we learn. This technological journey can be taken by all, teacher and student alike and with the right approach by the teacher, technology will shine the light on our futures.


Karl Fisch asks us if it's okay for teachers to be technologically illiterate. I say no it's not. I agree with him when he says that for this day and age that we're in, not being tech literate is like not being able to read and write back in the beginning of the 20th century. Fisch also implements the idea that technology is "a part of life, and not an add on". Teachers need to embrace this idea. If we don't, we will be left in the dust. We are living in exponential times, and we must be able to keep up. Gary Haye's social media count was shocking to me, (check it out here) showing by the second how many facebook members are added, how many tweets and blogs are being posted, how many videos on youtube are being watched, and how many emails are being sent globally. With data like this, being updated literally by the second, it's impossible to reject the fact that technology is a part of our lives. Being tech illiterate will leave you with very few opportunities to grow and prosper. Being tech illiterate AND a teacher is a dangerous combination that is sure to hinder the learning process of some students. We must not let this happen by continuing to learn about technology and by sharing the passion to learn with our students.

My Technological Awakening

I watched a video tonight entitled "Did You Know?". I really was blown away at some of the numbers that I saw on the screen. I hadn't even thought of some of the things that were being suggested in the video. I came to a realization that I don't know as much as I should...or at least as much as my potential students....
I'm amazed at how prevalent technology is, and I believe we've only seen a small portion of our potential. It's obvious that as the years go by, there's shorter time in between transitions of "old to new". In the video, we are asked "to whom did we ask our questions before google?" and our future generations are asking "there was a 'before google?'" It is becoming near impossible to fight this gap.
"So what does this all mean?" The video asks us at the end of an overload of information... I believe it means it's time for us, educators, to step up to the technological plate and take a few swings, because we are being lapped by the younger generations, you know, the ones we are guiding?
Another thing that this means is that the children that our coming to our institutions to learn are becoming bored with the lack of stimulation they are receiving. These children know that they can find out anything they want to with a few clicks and I can see how they would find the classroom setting with the technological illiterate teacher regurgitating a memorized lesson to them boring, even counterproductive. Which brings me to the second video that I watched...
Mr. Winkle wakes up after 100 years to find that life is passing him by at exponential speeds. Then Mr. Winkle goes for a visit into the school. He is at home. Things are normal. He finds that he can keep up with the pace of the school. The system is old. It's time to wake up and bring something new into the school before the children don't need us anymore.
I'm disturbed, even a little scared, if you will at the thought of what all I DON'T know. I now will be more thoughtful of the "new" and appreciate things I learn, for I more than likely will be able to use these tools to touch the students that I work with. Ken Robinson said in one of his videos that "nobody knows what the world will look like in 5 years, yet we're supposed to be educating our youth how to thrive in the world". I find that we might not be moving forward fast enough.
Robinson's position is that creativy should be put on the same level as literacy and we should not "squander" the creativeness of these children who possess extreme capacity to prosper. Robinson wants us to not be afraid to make mistakes... for this is where original thoughts are produced, and creativity is nurtured.
I was touched by Ken Robinson. I appreciate his dedication to dance and the arts and I agree with his philosophy that these disciplines are just as important as math or sciences. I don't want to be part of the problem that stifles the learning of these children. I hope to increase my knowledge daily and share what I learn with my students. Click here for a link to this video.
The last video I watched for this blog was very interesting. I'm jealous that I never had a class like the one in this Georgia school. I love that the teacher is so willing to use other tools than just pencil and paper and encourages many types of learning. Now that my curiosity has been heightened, I am more than eager to delve into the world of technology. I'm still nervous as to what a terraform might be but I have the confidence that I can keep up with what's going on around me and use what I know to accumulate more information. I'm very excited to begin this new journey. Vicki Davis is doing remarkable things with her students and I can't wait to see what I have in myself that I can bring forward as well.