Journal #8

"The 1,000-Mile Microphone Cable" By Glen Bull

This article describes the possibility and freedom the internet really has to offer. Through the internet we have now been accustomed to new forms of art such as; video, audio, text and images. This author discusses primarily on the audio portion of these major art forms. He focuses on Skype, which is a digital phone on the internet with access to any phone line in the world. This service will allow the classroom to connect to another classroom around the world for a day of discussion and introduction. Another program the author talks about is Jamglue, which is an audio editor that allows for collaborative learning, editing and sharing of information. This program can be accessed and edited from any computer with an internet connection. Sites like these are perfect for a classroom. For example, the teacher will put a reading on the internet, the students will then have to listen and record their thoughts or post them on the site as a collaboration. These advancements are starting to make the technological era much more connected than ever before.

Question 1: Have you ever heard of Skype or an internet phone?
Until my education class in college I have only heard of video conferencing which is basically done with those little cameras for the computer. Skype, a phone that can connect me to the world sounds like a great idea.

Question 2: Do you see these as educational?
Absolutely. I can picture myself going on the internet every day as a teacher and calling a friend or family (my brother Scott--teacher) with Skype for advice about anything. Jamglue also sounds like a great way to store and retain information. Posting notes, homework, deadlines, and instructions will be something for my students to recall to. There will be no excuses!

Journal #7

"Virtual Schooling" By Niki Davis and Dale S. Niederhauser

Journal #6

"Learning Connections: Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom" By Elizabeth Ross Hubbell

This article is in total support for the introduction of technology during our childhood, which i think is a great perspective. When we are children we are surrounded by technology. This curiosity for our surroundings should be developed not only on our own but in the classroom as well. The author gives a few examples that will incorporate technology, connectivity and knowledge. For example, Kidspiration is a program that allows the students to interact with technology and information. It is a graphic organizer program that not only documents progress, but it is fun, effective and can be shared to family or class members for retention. I have had the chance to work on this program and I thought it was the easiest, coolest way to document information. It really was the first chance I got to align my work and show my talents to be displayed to my future students; highly recommend. Another example the author uses is Starfall which is a .com. It can be found on the internet and easily incorporated into any classroom. This author gives some concrete examples of how those examples can and should be used in a classroom setting. All in all, technology should be delivered into our children's minds at any age. If we don't do it who will?

Question 1: Are you pro or con for the introduction of technology at such young ages?
I am all for technology so I think I'm a pro. If my kid or student is going to need technology in the future I do not want to be the person to withhold information, I want to be the person delivering it in as many ways as possible. Besides another perspective never hurt!

Question 2: Do you think technology will become a daily part of classroom life?
Honestly I wouldn't doubt it. I can totally picture children needing wear a wrist band for their attendance that is taken by a scanner in the attendance building. This will promote responsibility, the truth (ditching) and technology in the classroom.

Journal #5

Social Justice: Choice or Necessity? By Colleen Swain and David Edyburn

This Article to me was one of the most interesting articles to read. It really gave me a powerful technological perspective of inclusion in the classroom. First off, what is social justice? In this article David Miller is quoted, "Very crudely, I think, we are discussing how the good and bad things in life should be distributed among the members of a human society." What I think he is trying to convey is that the computer (technology) is a gateway to information; this information needs to be discovered, developed and most importantly shared amongst society. If technology was incorporated more into the classroom there would be a change in how knowledge is discovered; it will create new representations of their knowledge (Power Point, Movies, Web Design etc.) and will enhance students learning. In the future jobs will require that you are technologically savvy, so why not start children/students off on the right foot. If this technological inclusion could be incorporated daily, used routinely and reflect real-world applications, there is no telling how far our children will exceed our dreams for success.

Question 1: Where do you stand on instructional technology in the classroom?
Personally I think it's great. The interaction between students and teacher is much more appreciated and noticed. If I had more chances to take technology classes in the past, I would have jumped on them the second I heard; I guess A+ Certification as a Junior in High School will have to do.

Question 2: Do you feel jobs in the future will really be that technologically dependent?
Yes and No. There will be base paying jobs that will demand nothing of the employees in a technological sense. But, if you want to make some money, than you better know technology, it will be the way to go, there is no telling when the advancements will stop.

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.

Adam's Intro Letter

Adam Tarnow’s

Introduction Letter

EDUC 422


Hey class,
My name is Adam Skyler Tarnow, I grew up in Palm Desert, CA; for those of you who don’t know where this is, it is one of the hottest places in the US during the summer. For my elementary years I attended Gerald Ford elementary, named after one of our greatest presidents. Recently he passed away and had is funeral in my home town, this was a shock for my town but good recognition. I later follow the simple path to Palm desert middle and Palm Desert high school, where I find myself as a young adult.
When I look back on the first time I used a computer I was about 10 or 11 years old. It was a Sony PC Vaio that became my new best friend. I have been through 4 computers, 2 laptops and every application, game and download possible. I’m not that bad, I just find these machines to be fascinating. Personally I like PC’s more for simple use but if I had an extra 2,000$ lying around, I for sure would purchase a Mac. I have used Mac’s at this school for four semesters and their productivity and capability far exceeds PC’s. I am probably on the computer every day just for typical surfing, chatting and shopping (buy.com, electrical).
When I look at the CSUSM/COE mission statement this section has the largest impact on me. “Collaboratively transform public education by preparing thoughtful educators and advancing professional practices.” I feel this statement says it all by including a collaborative effort (no one person can create major changes). This did not impact my decision to come to this school but I should have considered during my application.