Journal #4

"From Toy to Tool" by Liz Kolb

I really liked this article because it gives good insight to how we can use technology (Cell phones) in our schools to better our classroom experiences. Blogging, in present tense, is the wave of the future. Most teenagers have a MySpace which utilizes most of their day creating their own personal web URL. As this article was suggesting how we can use cell phones to conduct and post interviews via cell phone. The students will simply register on Gabcast (a site for uploading bloggers) and walk through the steeps to creating a quick, easy and technological savvy audioblog entry. This article also suggests a free service for students without cell phones. Skype is a free on-line service that allows the user to dial any where at any time for free. Any, if not all, of these suggestions in this article should be considered at every grade level.

Question 1: Should blogging be used more frequently in a classroom?

In my opinion, yes, it should be. Most students anyway already have an HTML creator, (MySpace) why not inform them of something different to put their mind and time into school related material. Basically EDUC 422 for the middle and high school levels.

Question 2: Is MySpace dim-witting our students?

Honestly, I feel like children living in the 21^st century have a small right to spend “a lot” of time on the computer. This time spent might not be on mathematics or history but it is spent learning the writing of the web (hypertext). Literally the computer sounds like a waste of time but no one can really say how far computers might leak into the school curriculum. If they ever do, children might have a better grasp on the material than the instructor.

Journal #3

"Video in the Age of Participation" by Glenn Bull.

In my opinion, this article reiterated the concepts behind society and technology. No less than one hundred years ago, people of the United States were patient, calm and civil. Now, living in the 21^st century, people are impatient and constantly in a rush. People now are able to give and receive information rapidly through computers or cell phones. The generational shift of technology is mainly due to the computer which broadcasts over 60,000 videos daily. Now a day’s, this type of activity seems normal, but, in 1920 nobody really thought we would be able to go anywhere in the world and be connected to the internet; viewing a live animal show from Africa from a satellite in outer space. It’s almost unbelievable.

Question 1: I your opinion; is there going to be a time where we will only watch video from the computer?

Honestly I wouldn’t doubt it. At the rate of 60,000+ videos a day you can only imagine how intensified it will be 50 years from now. Personally, when I want to watch a new video, I’ll go straight to the web.

Question 2: Should schools use more computers in their programs?

If computers can be incorporated accurately I don’t see how it will be ineffective. The only problem would be students surfing MySpace during class session and not paying attention to the material. It can be done.

Journal #2

"Breathing Fire into Web 2.0" by Justin Hardman and David Carpenter

After reading this article, I realized it had a lot to do with our EDUC 422 class. Most of the material in this article such as, portfolios (internet based), blogs and virtual discussion is covered throughout our class. I thought this article was interesting to read because it felt like it was directed towards schools or individuals who are not “up to date” with technological advances. Luckily I am attending a school that has all of these expectations. Throughout these past two years here at CSUSM, I have learned more about computer advances than I have for the past eight. Computers are internally complicated but externally interesting……so……

Why wouldn’t schools want technologically advanced materials for their students?
Most high and middle schools do have computer labs for public use. Where you will see the difference is around the Orange County area. Schools here give a laptop to the student’s freshman year and are responsible for it throughout their schooling experience. This obviously uses a tremendous amount of money. This reason alone is enough to realize why schools are not all equally advance through technology.

In your Opinion, are “Personal Digital Workspaces” helpful or not?
Honestly, I feel like digital workspaces in any circumstance are helpful. There are simple ways to organize, collaborate and comprehend material in a technologically savvy way.

Journal #1

“Professors adjust their methods to reach technology-savvy generation” by Eleanor Yang Su.

This article gives a concrete description of the constantly changing atmosphere of a classroom inside and out. What I really liked about this article was how it reminds me of an average day on Cal State San Marcos. I say this because all you ever see are students and professors lost in “cyberspace” through their cell phones, laptops or video games. I can recall one time in my previous classes there was a gentleman who did play poker right next to me all class session long. This was not a large class either consisting of twenty eight students approx. It was cool but extremely distracting! I actually caught my self disappointed when he would lose a hand (I love poker). This is why I keep my computer at home where it should be. Something else that caught my attention was the discussion about “remote answering devices”. This year I have my first class (HIST) that involves one of these devices. It is an easy way to take role, receive/send answers but slightly expensive. I guess that is the cost of technology and an easy way for “the teacher to connect to the students using technology.”

Question 1: Is technology a disruption or a future succession for the classroom? Personally I feel like technology will only help students learn. The way technology is orchestrated in the classroom will determine the classes’ technological worth. If laptops are a distraction in the classroom it will then be the professor’s job to regiment the classroom in some orderly fashion.

Question 2: Should On-line courses be available? Why? Why not? Yes, they should be. It’s easier for the students as well as the teachers to grade, ask questions, submit assignments and organize information.