Blog Post 3

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

To some extent, this movie has captured my college experience. While not everything displayed in the video was entirely accurate as it relates to myself, it does make many valid points. The fact that this video came from students' surveys of themselves in college life speaks for itself. The question is not what the problems are, but how do we fix them. There is no miracle cure for how we are educated. However, when a select few teachers consider other alternatives, things begin to change. Eventually, one person(of course multiplied by many) can and will make a difference in the way students are educated in the classroom.
I would add clips about personal lives affected by college. The movie breaks down the college experience, but does not include anyone's personal problems. While these clips do not need to be too detailed, a portion of them should elaborate on the general effects on students outside the classroom.


Read the post "It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines

I agree with Hines' outlook. She stresses how important it is for teachers to learn as they teach. It is not good enough for a teacher to simply have a lesson plan and teach it from the book or a computer. I especially agree with her statement, “Teachers who customize the learning experiences of their students to involve critical thinking and problem solving are doing their students a greater favor than those who misuse technology as a means of facilitating learning.” Using only means of technology does not mean that a student will learn more efficiently or have more success.
Hines' statement, “These foundational components of a quality classroom experience will ensure that students value experiential and focused learning”, is very true. Experiential learning is the best kind of learning that can take place. Students and teachers alike learn through their own experiences. Also, if the students are having fun while this takes place, they are more likely to be more creative.


Karl Fisch: Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?

When discussing whether being technologically literate is relative to success or not, Fisch makes an excellent point. It is getting much more difficult to go through life technologically illiterate. Technology will never stop, and neither should learning about it. Fisch's statement, “You need to demonstrate continual learning, lifelong learning – for your students, or you will continue to teach your students how to be successful in an age that no longer exists,” is very true. If students are not encouraged, they are being set up for failure.
There is much for a teacher to consider if he/she expects to meet Terry's standards. What the teacher must realize, however, is that you can only do so much. If at the end of the day you advance a student's knowledge in some form and they have learned something, then you have done your job. Nobody can expect any one person, teacher or parent, to teach a student everything. Hopefully, by the educated and technological guidance of the teacher or parent, that student will become well capable of excelling himself/herself.


Gary Hayes Social Media Count

Most of these changes have to do with technology in some way. As a future educator, I must be aware of the ongoing development of technology and the way we communicate. Because these counts are growing exponentially, they will have a great effect in the school systems to come. This information was quite helpful in realizing how much the world today relies on virtual means for virtually everything. No matter what anyone does, these numbers will keep growing, and the technological demands will never stop. I believe it best to join the world of technology, instead of shying away.