Digital+Citizenship+Autobiography

I would not call myself a technology savvy person. Though, I am a digital citizen. On a daily basis I gather information from the Internet via computers, iPads, gaming systems, smart phones and more. Each day I find numerous sources of new information and new ways to involve my life ever more into the Internet. I have accepted the fact that my brain does not have the capability or the function to learn and process the enormous amount of information that is now readily available. I am dependent on the Internet.

Technology is expanding in itself, but it is also expanding the way we think, communicate and behave. In the few classroom experiences that I have observed, I have seen few implications of technology. For the most part, technology was used as a tool to engage students. Students were only able to visually interpret technology as a way of making activities fun through videos, PowerPoint presentations, etc. Though, multiple resources were available (e.g. SmartBoard, computers, laptops), the teachers were not using their resources to their full potential.

Technology should be used in the classroom as a resource to increase the effectiveness of teaching strategies. Computers are only one spectrum of technology but they should be placed in every classroom with a 1:1 student ratio. The classroom should mimic the outside world and there are few, if any industries that do not incorporate computers. Also, computers allow the inexhaustible communication of knowledge by means of the Internet and computer applications. This allows equitable opportunities for each student, creating a diverse and positive classroom climate.

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The information presented in the video was meant to shock high school faculty into acknowledging change. A key sentence, “We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist, using technologies that haven’t been invented, in order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet”. As a future teacher, we have to educate our students to use their surrounding resources to become academically successful. Although, this presentation was created in 2006 and the figures are clearly incorrect; the message still holds true. The world is ever changing by new technological advances every second. It is our responsibility to prepare our students to succeed in a globally competitive world.

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I agree that very few people use calculus in their daily lives, at the present time. However, every person will use calculus in some form or way in their lifetime just as much as they will also use statistics. I believe that neither students nor teachers should have to choose between statistics or calculus. Technology is increasingly, advancing and influencing our lives; we need to prepare our students for the future by teaching both. Therefore, when they come across problems where the solutions may use foundations in one, the other or both; they will be able to successfully accomplish the task.

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As a future elementary teacher, I became excited with the possibilities of lessons that can be created with squishy circuits. This demonstration shows that technology is multifaceted and does not have to be confined to the limits of a computer. Also, the demonstration shows technology can make learning easier by modifying concepts to suit all students of different ages and abilities. It is important to not limit our students by the resources that we (teachers) are available to. Teachers never stop learning and must always search for additional resources to further enhance our teaching and make learning more effective.

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It is no secret, funding can limit the technology used in the classroom. Innovations are generated each day that can increase the learning capabilities of students. However, these innovations tend to be expensive and therefore out of the reach of most school systems. Johnny Lee’s innovation with the Wii remote allowed students to gain access to technology, they may never have had access to before. Also, in the comments section of the video, a viewer commented that with 3-D glasses you need two working eyes to see the 3-D effect. Conversely, with Johnny Lee’s head-mounted 3-D viewer; the 3-D effect is possible on 2-D displays and for anyone who may have only one field of vision, instead of two. This further allows teaching with the use of 3-D effects to students with certain visual disabilities.

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Free and accessible education is a right that all humans should have and take advantage of. I believe in the future eSingularity will occur. However, I want more for the world than a free and accessible 8th grade education. I hope there will be a time where schools around the world can collaborate and teachers are not limited to educating students in their schools. Teachers are the most important resource to students. Quality education comes from quality teachers and students should not be limited to a few of the vast numbers of great teachers from around the world.

References: Pink Butterfly, n.d., Retrieved June 20, 2013 from http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/17300000/Pink-Butterfly-butterflies-17382724-1024-768.jpg