Blog A

I personally really liked the first three videos because they brought some really eye opening information to the table. The first video, A Vision of Students Today, was especially interesting. I likes the format of the video and how it went from one person to another with a tid-bit of information for each person. The info that each student had was something that could have pertained to everyone in the class. It also showed that students can get a lot more out of their classes if they are not allowed to use lap-tops in class and the class sizes are smaller. If each student is allowed to have their lap-top with them during class, they are most likely not paying attention to what is going on in class and they are surfing the web or doing other things. Also, if the teacher is up writing on a chalk/white board, they are moving around and are more likely to keep the students’ attention.
The Machine is Us/ing Us video was also pretty eye opening. I had never thought that the information we put on the internet is “teaching” the computer and it is becoming like another appendage for us. We are also capable of inserting our input and changing a lot of the ideas that are already on the internet. On Wikipedia. for example, people can go in and change the information to say what their opinion of a certain subject and the former person may never no that it happened. The internet is taking away from the personal contact between people as well. There is almost no need to write someone a letter and send it through the post office because people can just hop on the internet and email it. The same goes with making phone calls. Instead of dialing a number, people can instant message each other.
The Pay Attention video took a very different approach, basically saying that technology is here to stay so teachers should use whatever form of it that their students are using most to get them to learn. The part about using cell phones and text messaging for educational purposes was something I had never thought about. Students use computers and other forms of technology a lot while they are outside the classroom, using them in order to learn. Teachers should use these to get the greatest connection with their students. I know that personally I get bored easily when it comes to constant lectures or lack of movement and change of topic. By letting the students use outside forms of technology, they are able to gear the lessons to each persons’ type of learning. Like visually on a demo online, or listening to a podcast while they are working out.
The other video and website did not keep me very interested. The video kind of put MySpace in a better light than the media makes it out to be, but I’m not so sure that a majority of people really utilize it as an educational tool like the video said.

First Post!

So... this is my first blog... yay!