Assignment #1

Ashley Buhler

Prof. Monica Adair

Technology in Education

5 October 2010

Technology Literacy Paper

                The article I chose is titled, “Multimedia Technologies and Familiar Spaces: 21^st-Century Teaching for 21^st-Century Learners” by Judy Lambert and Cuper Pru.  Students in this new generation have grown up constantly immersed in technology, cell phones, internet, social networking, images, media, everything technologically advanced.  Therefore, teachers must adapt their teaching methods to meet up with this digitally charged generation.

                Not only do teachers need to use multimedia technology in the classroom but they need to teach students how to process the information they receive through multimedia devices.  “Reflection and critical thinking enable students to learn from their experiences; therefore, time must be built into classroom instruction for both processes to occur” (2).  Students are given so much information through technology it is a mass amount of communication, thus teachers need to assist students dissect, reflect and analyze what they learn.  “They must learn to apply technology tools appropriately in order to process multiple perspectives on real-world problems and formulate solutions to these problems” (2).

                Lambert and Pru explain in detail how important and challenging it is for teachers to seek new ways to “integrate 21-st century skills, nonlinear thinking skills, and digital-age reflections into coursework” (2).  They references updates for the NETS for Students, and NETS for teachers and how important that is for teachers to use communication skills in ways that utilize all available technologies.

                One thing I thought was cool to see in the paper was they brought up Blogging, and in this class we have been blogging.  The article said, “Blogging offers an online world of journaling where people share their thoughts, experiences, and sometimes pictures and audio files” (8).  We have been blogging in Technology in Education, but this article explained it more as another outlet that can be used for your students.  I thought that would be beneficial for my students in a high school setting to use a blog to communicate with other students about their homework or certain assignments.   It does not just have to be an update of information about myself, events and assignments for students, parents, and administration.  They included a quote from a student, interested in becoming a teacher, who used blogging, “I want to use blogs so my students have a means of expressing themselves as well as becoming more familiar with emerging technology” (8).  I thought it was funny that another prospective teacher said “I think I will use blogging in my classroom because it gets rid of some paper work that you have to deal with; it gets the students more involved; and, most importantly, it helps out with communication” (8). It was funny to me that this person thought of using blogs to eliminate paper work you have to deal with.  That is true.  But it is also a way to engage students.  Now it seems that every student, with some exceptions, has some access to a computer and internet, whether it is in a public library, a computer lounge provided by school, or a home or personal computer.  This expands the possibility of educational tools.  I know personally from how many hours I spend each day on the internet, not committing to study purposes, but Social Networking or other entertainment sites, I can just think how much more my prospective students like to spend time on the internet.  I think it would be huge to get them involved into doing something they like, but having it relate to school.  Also, blogging is a way to reflect and analyze what the student has learned or seen.  They can analyze what I have shown them in class.  Have every student make a personal blog, and they can interact with each other by posting forums, and if I show an engaging media clip, then have each student write a reflection online.  I feel it is so important to engage students in what they like to do, but make it educational.  

Works Cited

Lambert, Judy, and Pru Cuper. "Multimedia Technologies and Familiar Spaces: 21st-Century Teaching for 21st-Century Learners." Contemporary Issues in Technology & Teacher Education 8.3 (2008): 264-276. Education Research Complete. EBSCO. Web. 5 Oct. 2010.

NETS for teachers:  I like the second standard:
Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
b. Develop technology-enriches learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning and assessing their own progress.

This made me think about my article I read that wanted teachers to incorporate not only multimedia technologies but also experiences and analyzing and reflecting what students have learned.  I feel this in critical for students to take in and internalize concepts taught in class.  It also reminds me of blogging, how students can become “active participants” by expressing how they feel about what they have learned and sharing that with others, which is a form of assessment, student voice.

NETS for Students

4. Critical thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions

I thought this was important because it relates back to my article to have students think about what they have learned in order for them to relate it back to world issues.  I like the idea of analyzing data to make decisions or come up with solutions to problems they might have. Students could research a global issue after watching a video and come up with solutions, such as the BP Oil Spill, or Child abductions in Uganda.   They would come up with a solution to a world issue, and make plans as to how they would achieve that solution. They could make a multimedia project to convince classmates to help support their cause.  Students afterwards would blog about their individual reflections towards their own projects, and if they thought they were convincing or persuasive enough.