Blog #2
I am very impressed by Todd Oppenheimer’s The Flickering Mind. He has a critical view about technology. Oppenheimer does not think technology is the answer to all of our problems. I liked his example of the use of film in the early 1900’s. Thomas Edison stated “I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize our educational system, and that in a few years it will supplant largely, if not entirely the use of text books.” This did not happen. Oppenheimer paints a realistic view about technology, a critical one, but realistic especially if you do consider history and technology predictions. He also says we must be careful about how we use technology.
Tectonic takes a stance on appropriatness of technology and how it is being used. I like the quote “we expose fourth graders to enabling stories like Charlottes Web and reserve darker works like Kafkas The Trial for a Much Later Time. Technology should not replace hands on lessons, physically engaging activities and face to face language experience but enhance them.
Nets-s seems to be the most accepting of technology in a student’s education. It gives a guide to using technology appropriately and not just technology for the sake of technology. Students are still encouraged to interact and collaborate with their peers.
I believe that all three sources have a common theme, which in one word would be appropriateness. Technology should be used appropriately, not just technology for the sake of technology, but to enhance education. Technology should not dominate learning, but make it better. Students need to know how to use a dictionary in order not to use a dictionary.
TechBlog2
I like that you included Oppenheimer's coverage of the history of technology in education and his predictions. This part was very interesting to me and made a lot of sense on why we need to be cautious and critical about the new technologies available today. I also liked that you stated that technology should not replace hands on lessons but enhance them. It reminded me of Papert's prediction in "The Flickering Mind" that teachers would not be needed and be replaced with computer in 20 years and that education as we know it would be non-existent. That's a scary idea to think about! However, Oppenheimer did a good job at disproving Papert's idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree re: highlighting earlier technologies and the predictions made about them. And I couldn't agree more with your concluding paragraph and the importance of appropriateness.
ReplyDeletejd