Study touts benefits of a wired classroom

Study touts benefits of a wired classroom

“To wire or not to wire, that is the question.” While my school has decided to ‘wire,’ much debate is occurring in an effort to determine the ‘how’ aspect: ipads? Smart Boards? Mimio? Laptop carts? iPods?

With interactive technologies (Ex. Smart, Mimio) being in wide use at the moment, ideally, they must be utilized in ways beyond the traditional stand-and-deliver method of teaching. Schmid (2012) states that, if used in the traditional way, the result is that “[they become] not really much different from a blackboard or an overhead projector or printed page,” with things such as PowerPoint presentations not having much of an effect on students’ learning or attitude (Schmid, as cited in Branswell, 2012). One would hope that these types of interactive tools would be utilized in far better ways than previous technologies (ex. blackboards, overheads) given their capabilities.

Overall, the type of technology is not typically what matters. Rather, the author cites how technology, in general, makes an impact, “ when it actively engages students, when its used as a communication tool, when its used for things like simulations or games that enable students to actively manipulate the environment” (Branswell, 2012). Being able to interact with one’s environment in ways not possible with text, such as computer simulation, provides conditions that allow for manipulation to begin (Schmid, as cited in Branswell, 2012). If a teacher’s use of technology has a “small to moderate positive effect on [student] learning and attitudes” when utilization of the technology is at its highest, it becomes critical for technological tools to be used by teachers in ways far beyond the traditional sense.

Schmid notes the greater gains achieved through more recent, sophisticated applications over older applications. If this is a continuing trend, with new(er) version of applications occurring with ever greater frequency, how does an education system budget for constant change in the technological sphere? In an effort to achieve maximum gains in regards to student learning and attitude, is having the newest and greatest an attainable goal? Is the newest even really necessary if the technology that is available is being utilized to its greatest potential?

The need for technological leaders has never been greater. With staying ahead of students in regards to software, and what’s ‘out there,’ being a high priority, teachers must have on-going support and training in order to effectively utilize technology in order to stimulate and engage students in learning. Perhaps training teachers well in what technologies are available is more effective than dropping technologies every year for the next best thing.

The need to teach using technology is a non-negotiable. Grumberg (2012) states that school’s can’t meet the needs of students if they are not taught in the way they need to learn, which is “through the manipulation of these technologies” (as cited in Branswell, 2012). I am currently in the midst of learning how to effectively utilize new and exciting interactive software. Having the time this year to immerse myself in learning, and being free to explore and manipulate various software and technologies, has been a privilege. This privilege of time needs to be afforded to educators.

In an effort to encourage the highest level of engagement from students and teachers, we need to begin to think creatively about what we value regarding technology and the intentions we have in respect to its utilization in our schools. As we continue to expand learning beyond the imaginable, we must keep in mind the dependence we have developed upon, and the value we place in, technology in society. 

Cheers,

Theresa 

Brandswell, B. (2012). Study touts benefits of a wired classroom. Calgary Herald. Montreal: Post Media News. Retrieved from http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Study+touts+benefits+wired+classroom/6181234/story.html

Digital age affects family time and relationships

Digital age affects family time and relationships

After reading this article, I wanted to look at the changes in the way we communicate with our families from a positive perspective. Living in Calgary, thousands of kilometers from my family, technology has been a life saver. "Advances in technology during the middle of the past century reflect just how gradually change use to occur" (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 40). Many options beyond phone calls and letter mail are now available, all within an extremely short period of time, relatively speaking.
While I still write letters (yes, handwritten and mailed via Canada Post!) with a dear aunt, and with phone calls still being a high priority at least once a week with family, newer forms of technology have opened many opportunities and possibilities for keeping me close with the ones I love.
Because of Face Time, watching my nephew grow up has been exciting despite the fact that I do not see him often, in person. Seeing each other in real time, from a multitude of devices, allows us to keep in touch wherever we are (home, traveling, etc.) without having to be at home in front of a laptop on Skype (although Skype is great too!). The convenience of being able to communicate with my family in such a powerful way results in me often 'forgetting' how far away I am from them. New technologies really make them feel so much closer than 'a phone call away.'
Digital photos have become a huge form of communication from my sister in law. She has created a digital archive of my nephew, taking a photo of him in the same chair every month in an effort to document his growth, then instantly uploading it for me and her snow-bird parents to see. She also sends me other random shots of him doing something silly, looking super cute in a new outfit, or even using a toy or book that I have sent him.
Text messaging has allowed for quick 'on-the-run' chats with family and friends, reducing the amount of time that would be invested via a phone call. The asynchronous nature of texting works for many communications, whether it is simply checking in and saying hello, or sending a funny quip read in the paper or daily anecdote. Responding immediately is rarely expected, which works well when time differences are a factor.
With travels in my foreseeable future, technology will be of great use for keeping in touch with family and friends. With communication being possible across international boarders (for free!), I have a wide range of options to choose from: Blogging, email, Skype, Google chat, to name but a few. Gone are the days of touching base with loved ones every couple of weeks because of phone call costs or time differences. Again, the asynchronous nature of many technologies allows for participation when it is convenient, with participation by both parties not having to be at the same time.
Even locally, with lives becoming so busy, and the city being so vast geographically, it can be hard at times to keep in touch with local friends. Texting, email, and face time have become great modes for keeping in touch when its just not possible to get together in person or perhaps chat via the phone.
While I do utilize many forms of communication technology in my daily life, I do make an effort to remember that texts are not always 'urgent,' and that I have voicemail for a reason. When I travel for the weekend, I leave my phone at home, serving as a reminder that being connected 24 hours a day, every day is a convenience, not a necessity. Finding a balance with all things in life is a constant struggle and an admirable goal - technology use falls under this philosophy as well.
As the "world roils in a state of constant flux" I eagerly await the newest communications technology (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 40). I realize that when "change comes slowly, adaptation is easy," yet I eagerly await the newest technology and adapt as best and as quickly as I can if it means that communication is enhanced with the ones I love (Thomas & Brown, 2011, p. 42).

Cheers,
Theresa

Online Privacy

Online privacy must be safeguarded

In the 21st century, technology has become even more intricately threaded throughout our lives. As such, the enormity of Bill C-30’s reach cannot be underestimated. While the bill, "[is] not about surveilling Canadians' Internet habits," (Deputy Chief Murray Stooke of the Calgary Police Service, 2012, cited in The Calgary Herald), one needs to wonder about how this bill might be utilized as an avenue for the surveillance of Canadians' internet habits in the future. Mount Royal University criminologist Doug King notes, "we don't know the privacy implications of the technology we use - at least this bill might put it on the table," (Calgary Herald, 2012). The introduction of, and the subsequent discussion surrounding, Bill C-30 may be the very forum needed in our quest to gain better insight into the complex issue of technology and privacy.

This article also caused me to wonder, at what cost do we sacrifice our privacy for participation? Thomas & Brown (2011) outline that the new culture of learning is about freedom, participation, creating and collectives, all facilitated by a fluid infrastructure. To what extent do we, as a society, perpetuate and allow for our privacy rights to be waived, or quietly circumvented, in an attempt to participate?

The transparency of our lives via social media is evident in status updates on Facebook, photos on a wide range of social media sites/networks, tweets on Twitter “what are you doing?”, Lifelogging, and Youtube videos.

Are we allowing and accepting the loss of our privacy rights through our participation in social media? Or, do we need to reframe our understandings in regards to public vs. private, personal vs. collective, ultimately reshaping what our privacy rights might be/look like within each of those realms?

Cheers,

Theresa

The Calgary Herald (2012). Online privacy must be safeguarded, critics insist. Retrieved February 201, 2012 from http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Online+privacy+must+safeguarded+critics+insist/6178599/story.html

Thomas, D., Brown, J. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Seattle, WA: Create Space.

Technology: Reducing Cognitive Load

Globe and Mail: Pinterest

I came across this article in the Globe and Mail last week. I was intrigued by the title, 'Technology: Reducing Cognitive Load' and I wanted to explore this a bit more. Upon further reading, I realized that the article was more or less an advertisement for a website. However, I did find some interesting points about what this specific site has done to reduce their users cognitive load:

• Visual Images - our brains are able to process images easier than text. This site has focused primarily upon the use of images over text

• Curation is creation - basically, this site provides a 'storage space' of information (kind of like hoarding, but virtual and possibly more organized) so that everything you post/like/follow is categorized and easily accessible for future use

• Sharing - finding and following what you like is simplified by the common forum that is created through individual's pinned items 

So, what does this mean for blogging? More broadly, what does this say about the websites we follow (or don't), the degree of interaction that we may or may not have with a site, and the underlying messages and motives that may or may not exist in the sites we choose to read/follow? Do we choose certain sites (consciously or unconsciously) based on the above factors, with sites that have some or all of the ‘cognitive reducing’ aspects more likely to be followed? Again, more questions than answers…


Cheers,


Theresa 

Adventures in Blogging, Part 2

In an attempt to increase my blogging skills and understandings, I have decided to follow three blogs. Sullivan (Thomas & Brown, 2011) states that the participation of others is fundamental to the blogging process (p. 66). If this is true, then my participation in blogging cannot be limited to my own blog, but must include following and commenting upon the blogs of others.  

The three blogs I have chosen to follow all fall under the theme of “Living in Calgary.” As a non-native Calgarian, I decided to choose blogs that focus upon living in Calgary and experiencing all that the city has to offer. Each blog focuses on a different aspect of Calgary, including: restaurants, events, and local news. All of these blogs are posted on the right side of my blog under, "My Blog List."

The first that I will explore is The Avenue – Food Blog. This blog has various contributors, with each contributor focusing their post upon a specific food and/or restaurant (Ex. 6 hidden sushi gems). All posts focus upon Calgary restaurants and food services, with many being focused upon Calgary’s inner city establishments. This blog is exciting for me because it works well for my lifestyle – I enjoy good food, live downtown, and love to explore. My hope is that by following this blog, I will have an opportunity to experience the best (as rated by the bloggers) food and restaurants that Calgary’s inner city has to offer, especially those that are ‘hidden gems.’ With locally owned restaurants featured throughout the blogs, I will be supporting local talent while at the same time, expanding my palate.

The second blog that I will explore is “Downtown Calgary.” Calgary has a vibrant array of events, many of which occur in the downtown core. By following this blog, I will stay informed about the arts, music and festivals, along with a range of other events in the city. The descriptions and reviews of events will keep me informed about what is going on in the city and will guide me towards some of the best events in town.

The third blog that I will be following is the City of Calgary News blog. As a daily Calgary Herald reader, I am curious to see what other perspective(s) are out there in regards to the city of Calgary’s news. Hearing about events that might not make the newspapers, and having one or more perspectives in response to the news will make for an interesting read and, at the same time, open up my perspective to other possibilities.

            In relation to Technology and Society, each of the blogs listed above will be providing me with an alternate way to stay connected to my community. I can experience a wide range of opinions and ‘insider knowledge’ that may not have been available to me otherwise. With other people experiencing Calgary in their respective areas of specialty (food, events, news), I am able to then be selective about what I do and do not want to experience by utilizing their expertise and experiences. Thomas and Brown believe that "blogging is also a personally transformative experience...[as] the influence of the collective can powerfully and meaningfully shape the blogger's view of the world" (p.66). I am interested to see if my personal creation and use of a blog, as well as my experiences following the blogs of others, will transform my view of Calgary, and on a larger scale, technology and society.

Cheers,

Theresa   

Thomas, D. & Brown, J.s. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Seattle, WA: Create Space.

Technology and Literacy

"It's  a Book!" by Lane Smith

As an avid reader and self proclaimed book enthusiast, I found this short clip entertaining, ironic and, a reminder of technology's impact on literacy. This video takes an ironic and humorous stance towards the familiarity of physical texts (books) with youth. As we shift at an ever-increasing rate towards 'paperless' ways of being - at work, home, and in our leisure activities, perhaps this clip is not too far off?

Smith, Lane. "It's a Book." Retrieved January 23, 2012 from http://youtu.be/x4BK_2VULCU

Adventures in Blogging, Part 1

Determining what exactly 'blogging' is has been a priority for me this past week. What is it? How does it work? What do I 'blog' about? Who will read my posts? These questions, along with a dozen others, have caused me to search around and see what others are saying about the blogging phenomenon.

"Blogging in Plain English" is a basic, step-by-step explanation outlining one individuals views about the creation of blogging, including: its purpose and intention, how it works, and the connections that exist within the blogging community. This clip was enormously helpful in supporting my understanding of blogging basics. The search continues as I further pursue my blogging adventure.

After reading, "A new culture of learning" by Thomas and Brown (2011), I became curious about what a new culture of learning was and what it meant for me as a student and educator. Thomas and Brown outlined two elements necessary for the 'new culture of learning' in the 21st century: First, unlimited access to resources through a massive information network, and second, an unlimited degree of agency to build and explore within a bounded and structured environment (p. 19). Blogs may just be that environment in which one can access unlimited resources (via other blogs, and through various links within blogs), while simultaneously building upon and exploring within the structures of the blog and the blogging community.

As my blogging adventures continue, I will explore these boundaries in an effort to expand my 'arc of life learning,' outlined by Thomas and Brown as [learning which encompasses the] "activities in our daily lives that keep us learning, growing, and exploring" (p. 18). By following others' blogs, and posting on my own blog, I will attempt to become part of a larger conversation by questioning and imagining, and, most importantly, learning from others.

Cheers,

Theresa


Thomas, D. & Brown, J.s. (2011). A new culture of learning: Cultivating the imagination for a world of constant change. Seattle, WA: Create Space.

Video: Blogging in Plain English. Retrieved January 16, 2012 from http://youtu.be/NN2I1pWXjXI