Chapter 9 - Chelsea

What are kids learning from technology?

With the emerging of new technologies, parents and teachers should notice how children learn outside of school and the home. They need to recognize how much can be learned from the emerging technologies. The technology literacy gap begins at home.  Parents do not understand how their children are using the internet, TV, and video games. Most parents claim that video games seem violent and may corrupt their children. Parents also add that while playing the games, children are missing out on physical exercise. What the parents do not see is the problem solving skills and communication skills their children are developing because it is beyond the experience of many parents. Parents should also want to get involved. They should pick up a controller and let the child explain how to play, the moral behind the game, and show strategies of how to beat the game.

Chapter 9 also encourages parents to let their children sign up to online communities. The communities would consist of other children with similar interests to theirs. Research skills and an extended pursuit of their interests can come from these communities which may benefit them in the future. They would be able to share their passions with like-minded children which would encourage them to learn about their passion much more deeply than they can on their own. The online communities allow children to see a variety children other than children in their same neighborhood or town. The chapter discusses an online community called MUVE which allows children to construct places using text descriptions and drawing programs. I like the idea of MUVE, but as long as there is parental supervision. I am not a fan of letting younger children use the internet. I myself was not allowed until I was much older. The internet has just become a dangerous place. But MUVE is beneficial regardless of my thoughts about it.

How has technology changed kids’ social lives and learning?

The convergence of peer and popular culture through technologies is the largest threat on schools and parents. Entertainment technology influenced the development of pop culture which made adolescents embrace these new technologies and reinforce peer cultures. Television has allowed for viewers to create blogs about what happened during a show or movie and the peers can discuss it. Video games allow players to solve complex problems and strategize. Blogging is definitely beneficial in the entertainment industry.

Chapter 10
Rethinking Education in a Technological World

The synopsis for education has evolved over the years.   In the past the perception of one’s success depended on the amount of education they have acquired, but recently there has been a shift in the success dependency on education.  Today many people are receiving the education, but many other factors are now affecting the rule of success.   Today the equality for top education to learners suffers for many reasons and therefore the success factor for many individuals may lack.   What kind of technical strategies can be implemented so that education is accessible to everyone in the society, regardless of their economical status?  How can the have and the have-not’s obtain the same amount of education to help foster each one’s success?  These are very important questions that need an answer worldwide.

At one time, the children relied solely on the teachers for information, but now technology has made knowledge available outside of the one source volume, the teacher.  Although we each received the beginning of education in a traditional classroom setting, we can now enter the broad scope of learning with different technology.  Rethinking education has liberated us globally to become a storehouse of knowledge without being bound to the traditional classroom.  For example, social networking can also filter learning styles, but at the same time we have to bring the older generation up to speed of new ways of learning.  It’s easier for a fifth grader to use computers, laptops, Ipads, and tablets, because this is there era of technology, its now introduced in the schools.  However, the older generation must now learn how to operate this new technology.  Rethinking education now includes the older generation as well as the younger generation.

What foster’s our children to learn will also maximize their motivation to learn.  How do we motivate our children to learn the basics of education such as: math, reading, and English seeing there are so many distractions, we call them.  Incorporating video games to teach these basics can be a catalyst to the learning process.  

 The world must rethink education, how we learn, and how it will influence our career, and how we will transition for learning to work, and what kind of leader will we become in the future.  The education of our children is no longer left to the parent but the government has played a major role in children receiving adequate education.  The No Child Left Behind was developed to ensure that children received “equality” of education.  “Parents, citizens, teachers, school leaders, and technology leaders needs to collaborate on how to bridge the gap in creating new opportunities to learn.

Amelia Mosley

Chapter 7 What May Be Lost and What May Be Gained

This chapter discusses the benefits and possible detriments that could be caused by the use of technology. The author refers to it as the gains and losses.

The chapter begins with the visions of Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann who believed that education could be used to improve citizenship and assimilate society into a common culture.

Modern theorist point out what could be gained or lost by the use of technology

Lost

•Cultural zones could be established that isolates groups based on their personal beliefs

•Reduction in diversity

•Isolation of individuals as they become attached to their devices rather than interaction with humans

•Disparity among socioeconomic groups who have access to technology and those who do not

Gains

•Learning will become more engaging due to commercialization

•Education can be more customized to meet individual learners’ needs and abilities

•Technology makes access to knowledge more assessable

•Competition is diminished as technology equalizes the knowledge base

Chapter 8 Reflection

April Johnson

Chapter 8 Reflection

            In reading this chapter, I felt that it related to me personally.  I learn by doing hands on work.  In high school it was mostly reading and writing papers. History and science were my most challenging subjects.  I discovered that when I took my Allied Health, mathematics, and computer courses, I responded well because these subjects involved me using my hands to figure and learn different techniques.  Chapter 8 discusses how to incorporate technology into the school system.  Our schools are behind because the children now are more technology oriented.  They watch TV, play video games, chat, listen to music, and much more.  The use of hands on learning is big in time now because it is used everywhere but in schools.

            The big issue with people today is that they are worrying about changing the way schooling is done period.  That is impossible as well as unnecessary stress to those who come up with different curriculum. I agree that the school should be reshaped rather that redefined. Technology is an enhancer to education. When I was in high school, I wished all of my classes, especially history and technology, could have incorporated my interests like allied health did. The chapter suggested that standardized tests be reshaped into tests that relate to the child’s interest. I admit that it took me so long to figure out a major because I was not guided in high school to explore my interest. Only the fundamentals were taught there in advanced classes.

            I believe that Preschool up until middle school should focus on the fundamentals, with the incorporation of technology of course. The certificate idea in the book really made sense to me because it is focusing on the child’s interest and what they want to be in life.  This method can guide every high school student in the way that they want to go. There are vocational schools at different high schools, but I truly would like to see the vocational school expand to many more areas, so students will not feel confined to learn things that do not interest them. I’m not saying that the core courses are not important.  True there must be a time where the original classroom setting must take place.  However, I do not believe that students should be confined to just this one method throughout their high school years.  If this continues to take place, then our children are being set up for failure in college.  Just as it took me five years to figure out what I enjoy doing, it may take others longer.

            In conclusion,  I favor the performance based assessment. Instead of wasting time doing work that does not interest them, students can take that time a perfect it by doing work that does interest them with the use of technology.

Chapter 6 - The Three Eras of Education

Our education system has moved through two eras: the apprentiship era to the universal - schooling era. There were also changes on who was responsible for education, what was the purpose and content of education, how students were to be taught, and what did we expect students to learn. Location of where learning occured also changed, the culture changed, and the relationships between students and teachers changed.All education aspects are constantly changing as we move into the lifelong learning era.
In the apprenticeship era, parents were the deciding factor on what their children would learn. Boys would follow in their fathers footsteps and girls would become housewifes and learn farming duties. People of this era were self-taught. Horace Mann and his fellow colleagues had the revolutionary idea to take the responsibility of education away from parents. They argued that children should be required to attend school to learn American values and the English when their were immigrant children involved. In the present-day era, a shift back to the parents from school is happening. We see more home schooling, distance education, and learning centers. More parents are taking control of the education of their children by using computer software and educational videos. They teach their children what they think is important.
Before the Industrial Revolution, parents had expectations for their children to follow in their footsteps. These expecations supported reproduction of class differences. The main goal was to raise choldren with same skills their parents had.
After the Industrial Revolution, Horace Mann's main focus was on creating a common school system that would be the central path for children to take advantage of social mobility. His basic argument was equity through education because he flet that if children were given a free education, they would receice the American values and have the basic skills needed to do any work they chose. The teaching of apprenticeship involves observing, modeling, and practice and coaching. It is very resource intensive. The apprenticeship has started with some technological help, computer tutors. I believe these computer tutors do help students. They fully help the students in solving complex problems by pointing out thier mistakes. Apprenticeship is further discussed as assessments and as venues change especially with computers and the web.

Chapter 5- The Seeds of a New System of Education 2/3/13 2:02 PM

There is a great evolution in the methods of how we learn, so we are no longer bound to the fact that education is limited and not available.  In Chapter 5 it is discussed that schooling is no longer limited, nor confined to a particular venue.  The traditional classroom gives the just-In case method of knowledge; it is outside the classroom we may experience the just-in time method of education.  The seeds of new education systems are now blooming with a fervent tenacity, because of the demand for them.  Homeschooling, workplace learning, distance education, and etc., are all made possible through technology.  Many situations and circumstances cause society of seek for alternatives to help their children reach a plateau in education.  There are driving factors that will cause parents to desire to homeschool their children.  One pressing factor I see that may become the dominant cause for homeschooling, violence on the school grounds.  How a person learns and become educated depends on what interest them.
     During my ignorant moments of not knowing the evolution of homeschooling, I had somewhat a negative view of homeschooling.  As I read how it has evolved over the years, incorporating outside help for children, my perception was enlightened.  There is always room for improvement in every area of education.
     Learning in the workplace is on a continuum slope of change; therefore educating oneself of that change can increase your job security. Many companies are now using different types of technology to assist their workers and in training them to become more efficient in their job scope.
     Distance Education is also a very popular seed of education, it brings education to the individual, instead of them leaving where they are.  It’s been around for years, before evolution of this type, correspondence classes were available.  Communication was through mail but because of the growth in technology, we are able to do it online.  This is a very convenient way of learning for those with time management concerns.
    When I was an employee at Wal-Mart, I remember having to take CBL test, to keep me afresh on how the store was operating at the capacity it was.  Computer based learning software is being used in many workplaces in the effort to build more effective learning environments.  Doing your assigned job effectively helps the company maintain its place in the work force.  In conclusion of Chapter 5, with technology being embedded in new systems of education, there is bound to be an increase in interest driven society.  Obtaining a fulfilled education is no longer a matter of, should I further my education, but it will soon come to, I cannot afford not to continue learning.  I cannot afford to remain ignorant of the upcoming subjects in life.  “Knowledge is power.”
Amelia Mosley

Reflection- Chapter 4

In the beginning of time, all education started in the home.  Families performed every task based on previous family experience.  There were no machines to do all labor like they are today.  Men and women worked in the farm fields to produce all that was needed.  However, time has evolved to a place where technology does half of the teaching of education to students everywhere.  Chapter 4 give four instances in history that led to the development of American Schooling.  The Printing Press, The Reformation, The American Revolution, and the Industrial Revolution all contributed to universal schooling coming into existence.  Out of all four, I believe that the Industrial Revolution was the most influential because it turned the focus from all evangelism to a necessity.  The choice for children was crime vs. education.  The integration to cities enhanced the crime rate.  Families then came to see education as a viable source for their children.  Universal education has been built on a basis that cannot be changed.  Technology can only go so far. The classroom setting will always be needed  in order for education to be taught in a effective manner.  Technology should be used as an asset to traditional teaching.