Is it as scary to you as it is to me?!
Yes. I am sure it is. Let's grab it by the horns everyone!
The McLoughlin article reiterates what we have been struggling to grasp, that learning occurs in a socio-cultural system in which learners use various tools and multiple forms of interaction to create collective activity, supported by technology affordances. After breaking it down further I became intrigued by the standard views we have of cooperative learning. Being that cooperative learning tasks are instrumental to the success of learners and contribute to their social and academic progress, how does online cooperative learning hold a flame? I can't help but reflect on this experience in our Digital Tools class. We are trying to engage in online discussions, help each other perfect existing projects and such, but I feel it to be a lot more demanding and exhausting than a normal classroom setting.
I for one do not enjoy online classes. I feel they are impersonal and less engaging. Speaking of technology in the classroom, my entire 5th grade internship experience was centered around the promethean board; a new piece of technology put into every classroom. Once the power went out and we did not have internet access, the whole school was in a disarray and they were contemplating shutting school down. So while I accept technology as a valuable resource and something that is detrimental to the generations we are teaching and leading, I also think its a dangerous resource to rest on.
The rate that technology is being developed and becoming available to the public really is scary. It's no wonder that many teachers do not know how to use new technology to its full potential, because they're still figuring out how to fully capitalize on its predecessor. Although, I agree with you that relying so heavily on technology to the point that a power outage is enough to cease learning for the day is much too far. Teachers are taught to always have a back-up plan if their projector or internet is not working, so why would a school allow itself to be at the mercy of one fickle technological beast?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I was disappointed at the reaction of the school. Apparently because it was new technology it was required to be used during every subject at any given time. While there was back up, it was amazing to see how the teachers, for a split second, felt distressed that they had to check homework with the textbooks. These boards were placed in front of the blackboards, so the access we had to write anything down for the students was limited. Therein was the problem. It seemed choppy and unrehearsed.
ReplyDeleteHi Yasmin,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you did a pretty neat job in designing this blog.
Second, I agree with Steve in terms of backup plan. Thats holds true for everything in our life. Yet, I don't understand the schools putting such restriction "have to used every time for all the subjects". Technology should n't be treated as a fancy add on and should be used wherever applicable to enhance learning.I guess its administration's way of pushing teachers to start using technology(Dislike!!!).
Another thing that I struggle with is the myth that people have regarding online classes. People think that online classes are easier to teach and learn. Well, not anymore. Lately, the online classes that are informed by constructive paradigm of learning are quite different. They don't work on the format like that of self paced elearning packages.