Post #4

Focus question 3:
Digital inequity is the belief that adding machines to homes and schools will not, fix the issue that different social groups have different levels of access to technology. The thought process behind this idea of thinking is if you have a missing arm merely putting bandage on the wound is not going to solve the problem that your arm is gone.

It is like giving a caveman a computer, just because he has it does not mean he is capable of using it properly or unlocking its full potential. In fact you would just be adding to the problems associated with technologies. Viruses getting spread, unlawful use of technology, and the constant problem of inaqurate research.

Participation gap is the growing gap between students with full 24/7 access to the internet and those who have to go to a public place or library in order to gain access to the web. The idea is that students fall behind and do not posess the skills their technological peers have. However I disagree with this point purely based on the fact that anyone can learn microsoft office software, however the independent and personal drive is something that you cannot teach. The skills these kids pick up by finding new ways to solve problems and getting rid of procrastination. So its like a double edge sword the draw back of not having readily available technology has its own strengths and weaknesses but which is the true way to solve this problem.

Tech tool Edutopia

I am skeptical about this tech tool having just learned about what it means to do real research before I incorporate any information from this website I want to evaluate it. The authority of this website should get a 4 seing as how it is a blog posting and from a accredited writer, however there are 3 advertisements on the page, and no real sponsor is found and so the question becomes is it really Marc Prensky who wrote the article. The information seems relaiable however I would still be skeptical. so when I talk about Marc Prensky I will use "". "Marc Prensky" makes a good point about what is the point of updating software and computers if people will continue to use them like they have in the past and are ignoring the additional features about it (2013). Like so many other research we have learned in this class suggests "Marc Prensky" believes that utilizing these games that allow students to manipulate a "world" and be able to learn from their observations and become better students. The "Marc Presky" makes another observation he states that if we openly give technology to students they must be able to personalize it and not have to constantly get readjusted to a vanilla system. I have personally felt the annoyance of this when you have been using a system and customizing options and then it gets reset and you have to reestablish the same set up you had before causes class delays and frustration.

 

Summary:

This chapter starts off talking about the importance of incorporating technology to the education system and brings up points like Teacher mindset and Multiple pathways. which explain the only limitation for technology is the teahcer and that technologies possibilites are endless the only thing stopping its expanse are peoples uncertainty. It then makes a point that technology can automate, and it can infomate meaning that technology reinforces the good and erases the bad. there are a few ways teachers can use technology.

*Technology based library

*Technology based textbook

*Technology based learning environment

*Technology based teaching tool

*Technology based office

Then it talks about how to successfully integrate technology into the classroom which there is no set formula and every teacher has to figure out how much or how little technology to incorporate which i believe is the main outlook of this chapter.

References:

 

Maloy, R., Woolf, B., & Edwards, S. (2011). Transforming Learning With New Technologies. Boston : Pearson Education, Inc.

Prensky, M. (2005, December 12). Shaping Tech for the Classroom. Retrieved February 8, 2013, from Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt-shaping-tech-for-classroom