Blog Post 3

Micheal Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

"I did not create the problems, but they are my problems!" This quote stood out to me while watching this video. The message in this video is powerful. In my classes teachers are still using chalkboards, whiteboard, and overhead projectors. I can't believe that teachers still want to write so much information on the board and then erase it. It's like they are writing for exercise.
We just recently received smart boards in our classes, but the teacher still use power points instead of incorporating new ideas to teach the info. My teachers are also still inviting speakers to the classroom instead of using skype as a way of communicating. They could create a podcast, video, or skype with others instead of creating a power point for every chapter. We as students pay so much money to attend college to only graduate and know nothing about technology. It's time that we jump aboard and get with the program. It seems as if school is the only place that is stuck in time. School is the foundation of our lives and we are not getting adequate information there.
This movie basically summed up my college experience. All of my classes, except for one, are lectures and power points. When I become a teacher, I hope to have resources to expose computer technology to my students.

"It's Not About Technology" by Kelly Hines

I definitely agree that teachers must also be learners. The state could provide all types of technology and equipment to schools, but if the teachers don't know how to use it then the equipment goes to waste. Some teachers don't feel the need to change. They think since they have been teaching for 25 yrs they know everything.This is so untrue. We never stop learning; new ideas and technology are emerging every day.

We just received smartboards in our education classes about a year ago. The teachers are still using power point presentation on them. I'm thinking if the teachers are not going to use it for new advancement then the university should be issued a refund. New equipment doesn't help at all if no one puts it to use. I think the teachers should be opened to new new ideas about technology into the classroom. One teacher was lost when she saw the smartboard. She did not know how to write on it, so she picked up a piece of chalk and began to write on the chalkboard. I thought to myself, why didn't she at least try to figure out how to operate the smartboard? After reading Mrs. Hines' post, the answer became clear to me, teachers must also be learners in order to prepare for the future.

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

The answer to this question is of course not! It is ridiculous how some teachers think it is okay to use the same teaching method they've used for years. The world has advanced and the schools are stagnant. Students attend school for years and graduate knowing nothing. It's time for teachers to accept the fact that computers are here to stay. It's not a trend that's going away. Teachers need to realize it's not okay to teach students and have no clue about technology. Books, paper, and pens are becoming obsolete, so are the teaching methods.
The requirement for teachers should be technology literate. Why are the standards so low for teachers' certification? In my education classes, I rarely use a computer. I know the classes should require more technology, but the teachers are not incorporating technology into the curriculum. There is no need for finger pointing but we need to start learning from our mistakes.