Blog Post #3

Image via WikipediaResponse for Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
     I thought some of the facts pointed out in this video was true of my college experience just for my prerequisite classes. Such as, 18% of professors know your name. Prerequisite classes are so big professors cannot possibly learn all the student's names. As you progress up into your core classes, your classes become smaller and it is easier for the professors to remember you. You want to make it a point for them to remember you, because you will need recommendations from some of them. I enjoyed my core classes. I thought the professors went above and beyond to make learning fun! I did not enjoy the prerequisite classes, like I said too big and you are just a # in those classes.
     Also, the cost of textbooks is ridiculous. I almost paid $150 for a textbook for my art education class. I ended up buying it for half the cost and still thought that was way too much! Textbooks are normally a waste because most of the time we buy them and then we never read them. Either textbooks need to be made affordable, or they should not be required at all. There should be online textbooks.
     Something needs to be added to the video about the rising cost of college. Especially, since I first attended college in 1991 and it only cost me around $500 for 12 hours. By the time I graduated in 1997, tuition had gone up to $1500. Still much cheaper than what I paid for 9 hours this semester. I am concerned about how my children will be able to pay for college. I paid for my own college. I worked a part-time job and lived at home. I did not have a single student loan when I was done. I am not sure what financial situation my children will be in when they graduate. It is too scary to think about right now.

Response to "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

      I agree with Ms. Hines that it is not all about the technology. It is about the teachers who facilitate the learning behind the technology. Teachers should be life long learners. The teacher who is a life long learner is excited about teaching students to be life long learners. If you show a child how enjoyable learning can be and get them excited about learning, then no amount of technology can increase this interest. Technology can just add to the learning experience. Teachers need to keep up with the technology to stay interested in what the children of today are interested in.
      I liked how she brought up the point about computers being used in the classrooms as games and word processors. At my child's school they use computers to play games just as she said. I think that is one way to incorporate the use of computers. Kids need to be introduced to using a computer. If the only way is to do it through games then so be it. I do not want my kindergartner to be introduced to the internet and all it has to offer. Not even sure I want my 4th grader introduced to it either. She has a laptop and we monitor what she does on it. She plays games and occasionally Googles stuff that she finds of interest. I want my children to be life long learners but I don't necessarily think that constantly using a computer will help that. My daughter has had some very good teachers throughout her school year and they have made learning fun for her. My son on the other hand, has had a few (maybe only 2), teachers that have made learning fun. He has had two retire right after he had them. Getting a teacher right before retirement, NOT GOOD! I like it when my children get young teachers. They come in with new ideas and positive attitudes, whereas older teachers tend to not want to change their ways. Like one of my fellow students commented "they are riding out their tenure." One should only pray that the majority of the teachers out there are not doing this. I think a teacher should also mix it up a little and teach different grades to show that he/she is on for the challenge of teaching a new grade level and not stick to the same lesson plans every year.

Response to The Fischbowl:

     I really liked this blog post. I found the first part of it to be very amusing. "Headteachers and Principals who have staff who are technologically-illiterate should be held to account. School inspectors who are technologically illiterate should be encouraged to find alternative employment." This is two powerful statements from this blog post. Not only should they be held accountable for not wanting to keep up with technology, they should also be accountable for teaching the same lesson plans year after year. If it wasn't for tenure most of the teachers that refuse to learn something new would be kicked out in a heartbeat.
      I did not have to take this class. I chose to take it because I wanted to be technologically literate. It was funny when I told a few people I was taking this class and that I really did not have to, they were shocked. Some said, "WHY?" "This class is a lot of work!" "You could have taken anything else and you chose this class!" Well, I must say it is a lot of work, but I am learning so much. I cannot wait to share all this information with my own children. I hope to have a class blog with my own classroom one day.

Response to Gary's Social Media Count

This just really shows us how quickly technology is advancing and we as teacher's need to be on board to learn new things.