Assignment 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

Can technology save us? I am not sure about that comment. However, I agree that students today pay for classes they never attend, buy books they never open, and yet somehow pass a course that will benefit their career. Will this career affect anyone else...if a medical student did not go to class, would you want him/her as your doctor? It is inevitable that most students will spend more time online, eating, sleeping, watching television, or simply sitting around before they will perform school work.

Is there a way technology could be incorporated in the classroom to benefit students' college experience? Looking back on my personal experience, so many of the classes that were required, both undergraduate and graduate, were a waste of my time. Had those classes been replaced with a course to better prepare me for a technological based society, I would be among the few percentage of technological literate individuals.

"It's Not about the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I can relate to this article, due to the fact that personally I am not crazy about technology. I am capable of doing what I deem to be necessary to call myself computer literate, but I know at times it is not enough. It is true that technology comes to the vast majority's mind when determining what today's children need to know and be able to do. Though technology is important, is the need of technological resources the first things we need to initiate in the classroom?

This article presents four points. Teachers must be learners: once many students receive their certification/degree, they assume learning is complete. It is complete for those who do not wish to excel in their field of study and as future educators, every student should be prepared to continue their educational journey. Learning and teaching are not the same thing and future educators need to determine strategies that students will understand. Teaching in general would be useless if the teaching is not "good". A good teacher should be able to not only include technology, but also incorporate the necessary core outcomes without technology.

Karl Fisch: Is it Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

While I do agree that technological literacy should be required in most fields and careers, the list presented in Is It Okay To Be a Technologically Illiterate Teacher is pretty harsh. It seems to me that individuals who are technological literate have this high expectancy of non technological literate individuals to get on their level. Yes, this would be amazing if everyone had the same capabilities as those who are extremely literate, but would the professional athlete say this to a amateur...get on my level. Let's face it, some individuals do not have the desire to learn this tool while others would love to learn, yet has no teacher willing to help.

Overtime, perhaps more individuals will acquire the literacy to enable them to be on a higher technological level. However, it will take time and good teachers to get there. I agree that current employment opportunities rely heavily on technological knowledge. For this reason, it is vital for school systems to hire proper educators for not only students, but also teachers. This will build a stronger technological based community, and strengthen today's students preparation into the future.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

I honestly could not comprehend the amount of changes that were socially occurring. After reviewing the previous three articles/video, I look at technology in a slightly different light. Most people who are not technologically literate tend to think nothing based on technology will affect them. But how could someone not be part of at least some form of technology, social networking, etc.

The amount of money spent on online social networks is unbelievable. The increase of new members, blog posts, and texts that occur in seconds should be enough to turn anyone who is completely anti-tech around. The ability alone to be able to track such amazing statistics should be enough proof that technology is a large part of today and is only growing by the second.