Well, I need to get my act together. I (like Angie) have learned so much in this class already. However, I have yet to move away from the textbook. Ahhhh! I even printed off some of the readings required in this class. Why? Because I don’t like reading text on the computer screen. I often feel like I’m wasting my time when I sit at the computer screen. I have been comparing that time to the time my own children spend at the computer screen playing games. I know it’s not the same thing! I have vowed to set aside time everyday to sit and read, view, blog or converse on this black box. I will walk away from the comfort and security of the paper world and leap into a visual and interactive world of technology. I know, enough already, move on!
I found the article on LPWS very interesting but frightening. I’m not sure I’d like a personal web space with my personal history posted somewhere out there in cyber space. I understand that a blog is similar to that but what Cohn and Hibbitts are talking about is beyond comprehension, for me anyways. Several questions came to mind: security of the site? management of information? time involved in the input of information? the validity of the information? I discussed some aspects of this article with my grade 11 students and asked them what they thought about the idea of a LPWS. Most of them didn’t like the idea because of “hackers”. They were afraid to have too much personal information out there. This of course led to other topics but the majority of comments dealt with security of information. Most students said that they don’t even do their banking online because of security issues. I found this interesting as they are active participants in the webage.
In the article “Reconceptualizing the Digital Divide”, the concept of literacy and the link to meaningful use of ICT is what was of particular importance to my teaching and student learning. Paolo Freire states that” literacy instruction is most effective when it involves content that speaks to the needs and social conditions of the learners” (p.9). The issues of relevancy and engagement are issues that educators continue to grapple with. I believe it was Cindy, who in Tuesdays session made the comment that if students are engaged they stay in school. This is the issue that we are dealing with at Cochrane, and I’m sure that many of you deal with this issue as well. In my school attendance (lack of) and drop-out rates are very high. Traditional teaching methods do not engage our students. I often hear students state that they are unable to read yet they can surf the web, blog, post videos and spend hours on the computer communicating with friends. This is why I think it is imperative that teachers be better trained in technology so they can use these tools (computer, web, etc.) to link the teaching sphere to the learning sphere (does that make sense?). I know that I need to incorporate the computer more in daily sessions. One program I just finished working with was “icomic” on the Apple. I enjoyed learning how to use it (not difficult at all) and my students had fun using it and produced quality work. They put together comics related to the Middle Ages.
I am still exploring some of the tools mentioned in Tuesdays session. I have spent most of that time in Google (Reader, Calendar,Documents, etc.). I find if I try to learn about to many of the tools I get a little anxious and overwhelmed by the amount of information coming my way. So one tool at a time. I’m also still playing with all of the options in WordPress. Some of the blogs out there are so informative and well presented. I would love to be able to put something together for one of classes by the end of the semester. We shall see.
