PBS Online Learning Week

I chose to answer the questions in this assignment, verbatim, as they touch on key points regarding the use and effects of technology in modern-day society.

1.  Compare and Contrast each documentary.  What was similar or different from the first one (Growing Up Online) made in 2008 to the newer one (Digital Nation) filmed in 2010 ? 

The 2008 (Growing Up Online) video focused more on the implications of Internet use as it relates to the classroom and the home life of the student. It primarily discussed the issues pertaining to social media. It was interesting to note that some of what was discussed in Growing Up Online is already dated! For example, the idea of a family allowing a computer to be used only in the kitchen in order to prevent misuse is no longer relevant, as is the well-meaning mother’s demands for her children’s passwords. The common use of Smart phones today supercede these safeguards, the reason being the children can access any network, through any means, bypassing the conventional avenues. I tried putting filters on my home network router, but what good does that do if my kids are using the Verizon 3g network that bypasses my LAN entirely? The Digital Nation video was more comprehensive in its approach by providing an in-depth analysis of virtual reality, including the use of virtual meetings in the corporate world and the use and misuse of video games by recreational users as well as the military. This video also addressed thought-provoking concepts of multi-tasking and the shortened attention span of students in today’s culture of high technology.  It spoke more to the idea that technology is here to stay, acknowledged that it’s in a constant state of progression, while asking the question “Now, what do we do about it”?  They both delved into the shortcomings and benefits of social media use. For example, teens are able to work out inner conflicts by creating alter egos and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The example of Jessica, a.k.a “Autmn”, was used to illustrate this point. Also, people are now in the position to connect with others who share similar interests and this, too, is positive. Conversely, both videos warn against the illusion of having thousands of “friends” or falling prey to the Internet’s seductive qualities such as its ability to be a “willing listener”.

2.  Your thoughts on multitasking.  Do you agree?  Can you multitask?  Do you disagree with the video on the topic of multitasking? What do you think our students think about multitasking today?

The ability to multi-task differs from one individual to another. Studies have shown that the female brain is more specifically wired for multi-tasking as contrasted with the male brain, which is better able to focus for long durations on a single task. This isn’t a value statement, nor does it speak to whether or not this is learned behavior or that born of biology. Based on my own anecdotal experiences, this theory has held true. I’ve witnessed mothers being able to simultaneously assist the kids with homework, cook dinner, talk on the phone, and pay bills. More often then not, their male counterparts cannot do this well. Is it a skill that has evolved over time? Or, is the way the brain is wired?  Because technology brings to light the importance of multi-tasking, more research is in order. The videos do a good job or raising the pertinent issues involved with multi-tasking, and the opinions are balanced. I believe that the ability to multi-task is an important life skill, but so is the ability to concentrate deeply on a subject. It’s situational in that some situations call for multi-tasking, others do not. So, the ability to do one and not the other is problematic. As the MIT professor pointed out, some things need to be amenable to focus. It is disconcerting to see the shortened attention span of many students today, and the lengths to which teachers go to keep them engaged in the classroom.  As the brain imaging results of the Stanford testing of “chronic” multi-taskers shows, the practice of multi-tasking is a hindrance to learning. The interesting phenomenon is that the students, themselves, do not believe this to be the case. The confidence they had in their ability to multi-task was greater than their actual abilities. The unfortunate consequences of this dichotomy is that they will make mistakes while performing tasks, they will not fully comprehend class material at the depth required, and in extreme cases, they will take dangerous risks, such as texting while driving. I see my kids do their homework, while listening to music, sending text messages, following Twitter and keeping track of sports scores that are running in the background on the laptop. I believe this results in fragmented thoughts and ideas, which is reflected in the quality of their work. Just as the 2010 video points out, many students are unable to compose an essay and write in disjointed paragraphs. This is where society is suffering. As I write this, there are no distractions. The TV isn’t on, and I am not checking my emails. I believe the quality of my work is better because of this.

3.  Is there an addiction happening in society today with technology or is it just a new way of living?   Should we be concerned?

I believe there is a technology addition in society today. Technology has addictive qualities. It’s fun and highly engaging. It satisfies the senses and it provides for escapism. It offers immediate gratification. The same can be said for drugs, alcohol and gambling, other known sources of addiction. Studies show that there is a percentage of society who fall prey to addictions more than others. So, as with any addiction, it must be treated. However, the challenges are many. One cannot just abandon the use of technology and go “cold turkey”; the “addict” must learn to manage the use of technology in his life and work to obtain a balance. Additionally, it is a way of life for even the very young who don’t have the life skills and experiences to manage what could potentially be risky or extreme behavior. This is troublesome and we should be concerned. Just as the videos point out, we are just beginning to identify the problems associated with excess technology use, while trying to find ways to treat it. The concept of the Korean Internet Rescue School is no different from that of any other rehabilitation program. But, the ages of the children were alarming!

4.  Do video games serve a purpose in education or are they a waste of time?

An argument can be made that a smart educator could implement the use of video games in the classroom for role-playing or helping shy students with socialization techniques, by allowing a student to safely assume a virtual identity, perhaps. There are useful games that could assist a student with learning language and math skills.  I can see potential for an ESL student. However, it is my opinion that video games are generally a waste of time, most of the time. People are seldom balanced in terms of the amount of time they dedicate to playing mindless games.

5.  Do you believe that digital tools, such as google tools and technology in general can save schools that are struggling?

The urban school in the 2010 video shows a major turnaround in student performance after implementing full use of technology in the classroom. This was a hard sell for me. It is unclear if this school was comprised of disadvantaged students or a mix of students from all socio-economic backgrounds. It may be that they were working with a population of students who use technology as their sole source of extra-curricular activity and this may be why this school was so successful in engaging the students. I wonder what the results would be if this same case study where performed in a suburban, upscale school district, where students are used to engaging in the classroom and society in many different ways such as through athletic participation or other interactive activities. So, I believe that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. In the end, a school needs to address the needs of its students and should consider every available tool in order to accomplish this.

6.  How did what you watched in the two videos support your feelings about technology or how did it change your views?

Watching the videos only served to solidify my opinion that technology is here to stay and we all need to get on board with it. However, we need to understand the power of technology as well as its limitations, of which there are many.

7.  Are kids and adults today ruining their digital footprints by sharing too much information online without realizing that it may be detrimental to their future? Should they care?

People need to be cognizant of the data they share online and understand how to safeguard themselves and their personal information. Being aware of the issues is the first step toward dealing with them. Educating students from an early age, such as the lessons of “netiquette” taught to the Korean 2^nd graders, is key. Teaching people responsibility when using technology is no different than teaching the importance of safety when driving a car or what to do when being approached by a stranger.

8.“Stranger Danger” and predator fears are often overblown by the media on shows such as Datelines “To Catch a Predator”.  What are the real dangers of technology in this day and age? 

The real dangers of technology today include identity theft; the ability of one to steal and misuse another’s identify for criminal purposes. Often, this results in life-long consequences for the victim. Another dangerous area is the destruction of one’s reputation, by posting pictures or personal details online that could compromise their lives personally and professionally. I also think it can cause social isolation and the tendency for kids to become narcissistic.

I was absolutely amazed by the virtual reality software, Second Life, a sort of collaborative meeting, rather, collaborative "existence" software. I thought the juxtaposition between the narrator walking through the massive, but empty IBM building against the crowded virtual meeting space sends a very powerful message, that the medium in which we interact and exchange ideas has changed and will continue to do so in the future. I think the brick and mortar days are, in large part, behind us. Consider the proliferation of online classes and shopping and virtual corporate meetings. I believe this is only in its infancy and the classroom of the future will follow suit. These videos beg the questions our society needs to ask of ourselves. Does technology bring us closer together or further apart?  Is there truly a distinction between our true selves and our virtual selves? Should there be? What are we missing out on, if anything, by losing physical contact with one another? Is the experience of smelling a virtual rose the same as a real one? As asked in the video, “are we changing what it means to be human?

Growing Up Online

Digital Nation - Follow Up 2010

Digital Citizenship Prezi

Digital Citizenship Reflection...

The teaching of Digital Citizenship should begin as a child begins to use technology to access the outside world. In many cases, this can be as young as three years old. There are tools available for educators and parents to use in which to help them prepare children of all ages as to the safe and appropriate internet use.  It should be treated as another life skill, such as "stranger danger" and washing one's hands before dinner, and introduced based on the child's age and cognitive development.  So, the teaching process should begin early and continue to evolve as technology changes and as the child matures. Because the use of technology encompasses every facet of life today, teachers and parents should offer instruction and set thoughtful and reasonable guidelines for the child to follow. It is extremely important for adults to ensure that their children are safe by setting physical limitations with respect to Internet use and to stay abreast of the technical tools, such as the use of firewalls and filters, which aid them in doing this. It’s also important to teach kids to behave, electronically, in ways that are consistent with the values the parents wish to impart to their children, such as honesty, integrity and good manners. 

There are comprehensive lesson guidelines for online behavior for students of varying ages.  A particularly good one is from Common Sense Media, http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum. For example, a K-2 children would be taught to ask permission from a parent or teacher to go online, while learning the importance of passwords and keeping private information to themselves, whereas, students at the high school level need to be taught the long-term ramifications of such things as hate speech, sending elicit pictures over the internet or plagiarizing the work of others.

The nine elements of Digital Citizenship http://digitalcitizenship.net/Nine Elements is a good framework that can be applied to the classroom, and to the personal environment for people of all ages. (Bad online behavior certainly isn’t limited to those under 18!)  As incredible as technology can be, social media such as Facebook and Twitter often invite silly, rude and even dangerous behavior and don't have any obvious place in the classroom.  The benefits of using the many excellent teaching applications, however, are numerous as long as they are carefully considered and implemented by the teacher.  I believe that technology in the classroom should not include personal cell phones, or like devices. Students should leave their cell phones at home, or at least in their lockers. I have personal experience with a high school child attending a private, catholic school and another attending a public high school. The former did not allow cell phone use in the school during school hours. The classrooms had plenty of high-tech tools in which to use for lessons, internet access, and classroom collaboration, but the lessons were clearly defined with careful oversight. Conversely, my public school child often complains of students so focused on their social media, they literally zone out during class, clearly oblivious to any education the teacher is trying to provide. Engaged? No way!  Disengaged? You bet! Clearly, a case of free-for-all technology in the classroom gone awry and I venture to guess that the term "Digital Citizenship" was never used.  (I digress...)

My take-away regarding Digital Citizenship as it relates to the classroom, is simply that the rules need to be taught and followed if the classroom is to enter the virtual world as there is too much at risk for the school and the students in failing to do so. But, decisions to use technology in the classroom should not be based on the fear that a small minority of students will misuse it.  In my opinion, the gains to the classroom far outweigh the pitfalls... as long as it's well managed and age-appropriate.

K-2 Digital Citizenship Voki

This cool Voki offers helpful information to students at the Kindergarten through Grade 2 level, thanks to:

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/curriculum

Katie's Webinar Review - Module 1

There's nothing to fear, but fear itself...

I found a fun and informative webinar that discusses Technophobia as it relates to the classroom. It is called Overcome Techphobia by SimpleK12. Grace and Kim, the moderators of this webinar are engaging as they identify seven common reasons why teachers are reluctant to implement technology in their classrooms. They offer excellent ideas and solutions to the reader, without getting too "heavy" or dry, or delving too deeply into the technical details. They make light of the educator's fear of including technology into their lesson plans by referring to it as "Techphobia", while connecting the terms "phobias" and "solutions" to the terms "Symptoms" and "Cures".  For each Symptom, they offer a simple cure. The beauty of this approach is that it allows the reader to slowly get their feet wet with respect to using new applications, beginning with simple steps and easily understood concepts, without feeling overwhelmed. They address the common concerns of teachers without being condescending. The following list briefly outlines the Seven Symptoms and cures as outlined in the Overcome Techphobia.  

Technology is...

Symptom #1: Too time consuming to implement.

Time consuming is a mindset. It's time investing. Although, the learning curve can seem long, and sometimes daunting, the payoff is worth the investment. 

Cure: Use tools to save time. For example; try an application called vocaroo.com, which is a voice recording service. It allows the teacher to record and playback. A teacher may use this for paperless grading, or to leave instructions for a substitute, or to assist in teaching hearing-impaired students. 

Symptom #2: Fear - What if something goes wrong?

Practice, play, have fun, push buttons!

Cure: Ask for help from other, more experienced peers. Know how to contact your IT people, ask students - allow them to be the experts.  Start small. Try using an application called screencast-o-matic.com. This allows the user to record a lesson or series of steps a student can follow in order to complete an assignment or task. It gives the student the ability to follow instructions at their own pace, by allowing him to watch, fast-forward, replay the lesson. This may be helpful for test review or for students having trouble grasping a particular concept.

Symptom #3: It's too hard to get started

Don't try to do everything. Take one step at a time and collaborate with other teachers. 

Cure: Try Qwiki.com, a sort of Wiki or encylopedia brought to the next level. It is a multi-media, interactive and fun timeline of articles, pictures, videos and sound. This would be so useful and fun for both audio and visual learners and it's great that it's interactive enabling them to collaborate and modify the product.

Symptom #4:  What if I break it?

Play some more, practice, have fun, push buttons, try all menus... sound familiar?

An easily learned and implemented and safe application to try is glogster, a multi-media poster with a 21st-century spin. It allows the teacher and students to design an interactive poster that allows design graphics, sound, video. A teacher may want to use this program for an interactive and engaging newsletter.

Symptom #5:  I don't have access. (It's blocked)

Cure: You're the teacher. Take responsibility in getting technology into the classroom. Don't be a bystander. Show the benefits to school administration. Twitter is an example of a controversial application in the classroom. Many districts don't allow it. But, if you find a way to use it to engage both parents and students and can show results, make a case for it.

Symptom #6:  Why change now?

We ask our students to become lifelong learners and we as teachers should model this. Step outside your comfort zone.

Cure: Envision your ideal classroom, accept that technology can help this. Swallow your pride and let your students lead the way. Many of them are technology experts. Let them teach you.

Symptom #7: It's too expensive!

Cure: find a mentor, someone who uses technology to help you find and master tools you need. Get your hands on free software applications and resources. There are many free tech tools for teachers as well as professional development blogs you can learn a lot from and take advantage of. 

PBS Video Post - Integrating Technology Into the Classroom?

Week 1 Blog Post about the PBS video


I have mixed feelings about this video. I understand it was meant to jolt the viewer into taking action with respect to introducing or increasing the use of technology in the classroom. The video served the purpose of making me think of the implications of not using technology and allowing my students to descend into an educational abyss. It was successful in that it grabbed my attention, but I think it was one-sided. Although, technology serves a pivotal role in the classroom, it does not take the place of traditional learning as I believe young students need to first acquire the basic skills of reading, writing, language, information exchange and socialization.

I think that the use of technology needs to be viewed as a learning tool. It's a powerful and almost limitless tool, but one of many that an effective teacher has at his disposal. It is imperative that the teacher carefully consider the software that is best suited to the needs of his students in terms of their age and ability, as well as the appropriateness of the content in which he is teaching. It is important that those making the technology decisions have clearly-defined goals as to what they plan to achieve and those that are charged with instruction are well-trained in using the technology to achieve those goals.
In the article "Bridging the Gap between technology and Common Core Standards",  the author outlines the value of technology with respect to The Common Core Standards. However, he goes on suggest possible pitfalls in terms of academic dishonesty or students inadvertently ending up on inappropriate web sites. In addition to those points, it is my opinion that students can become dependent upon technology in terms of academic research and can become lazy. I've witnessed my own children quickly "Googling" answers to homework questions, without understanding the context of what they are learning or even if the answers they stumbled upon are correct!

I do think that there are some phenomenal uses for technology. I love the idea of using kidblogs in classrooms with international participation, for example. How cool is that? It is sort of like the Pen Pal connection of the 21st century. It broadens the students world by teaching them about other cultures. Add a video component such as Skype, and it makes the world come alive! This goes far beyond the limits of a dry text book! We live in a global society and this is the world these kids are growing up in. Also, I have seen interactive online tutorials for Math classes that I find are very engaging and helpful to kids as a supplement to their classroom learning. There are virtual maps that help with Geography. There are so many good examples of the use of technology in the classroom, but they should be used with careful planning and consideration.

Technology has changed my life...

How has technology changed your lives - for the better or worse? What types of technology do you currently use, daily, weekly, sometimes & what one technology could you not live without and why?

Technology has changed my life and the lives of my family members for the better, in most cases. I use computer technology to do my banking and online shopping, make air and hotel travel arrangements through web sites such as Travelocity, send e-invitations and to keep touch with others through linkedin. I don't know what I'd do without my favorite cooking web site allrecipes.com! We have a Macintosh network at home, including several laptops and a desktop, which are used to run our home business, manage household operations and homework. My kids use it for all of their social networking, including tweeting and Facebook postings and applications that I have never heard of! Sometimes, I think this is a drawback for them socially, but, they disagree! My family uses Smart Phones to send text messages and links to videos to one another. The ability to communicate electronically is very useful when it comes to keeping in touch with my son who is away at college in Florida and for keeping track of schedule changes and pickup times for my other kids.  I find it amusing that they always respond to my text messages, but, completely ignore my phone calls! My husband, who is a building contractor, uses his new IPhone 5 that he got as a Christmas gift to send and receive contractor's blue prints and plans as well as the faxing and email capabilities, that he didn't have with his "old-fashioned" phone. We tease him because he is the least tech-saavy individual any of us know!

The one technology I couldn't live without? Internet access - hand's down.

Why? Because it is my connection to the world. I don't care what means I use to access the internet, but I have to have something. I don't discriminate. It could be a desktop computer, my laptop, a borrowed smart phone... I'm not picky, but I need to see that wireless icon at the top of my screen!