Blog Assignment 3

"A Vision of Students Today"
Michael Wesch


"A Vision of Students Today" is a representation of what today's students face on a daily basis. I found this video to be pretty accurate. Students are faced with technology everyday. While in classes, some students are on their laptops doing other things besides classwork, they're texting on their cell phones, and even listening to MP3 players. Even I am guilty of texting while in class. I'm not saying every student does this in every class, but it does happen. Sometimes it almost seems like a distraction rather than a help.

Students spend more hours than there are in a day doing homework, sleeping, and using technology, such as computers to log onto social networks. Technology has brought us a long way, but we have to find an equal balance between technology and teaching. At the end of the video, it shows a chalkboard, but it also shows a teacher involved in his class. A chalkboard may seem boring without pictures and videos, but it keeps the teacher involved.


"It's Not About the Technology"
Kelly Hines

In her article, Kelly Hines addresses the issues of technology and teaching. Technology plays an important role in the world, but the foundations of teaching are just as, if not more, important as technology. The act of teaching cannot be forgotten about just because we have computers and electronic boards in the classrooms now. Mrs. Hines elaborates when she explains that even though effort is put into the act, if your students aren't understanding, then no teaching has occurred. Teachers learn just as much as students do, or at least they should.

This article also explains how to work toward becoming a 21st century teacher, focusing on core skills and outcomes. We have to embrace creativity and innovation. We must teach our kids how to use critical thinking and communication. Technology is great, but we'd be nowhere without these skills, and together, we can go even further.


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

Today, some teachers are technologically literate, while others aren't. Is this okay? Karl Fisch says, "If a teacher today is not technologically literate-and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more-it's equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn't know how to read or write." I absolutely agree with this statement. It is impossible for a teacher to teach something that they aren't familiar with. You can't teach someone to read if you are unable to read yourself. You can't teach someone how to understand a computer if you can barely operate one.

Technology is a part of our lives. It always will be. We need teachers who are willing to stand up to the plate and take the world of technology on face to face. We are always learning, and we always will be. We have to embrace it!


Gary Hayes' Social Media Count

Gary Hayes' Social Media Count shows how fast changes in media occur. Every second, something changes. There are more blogs, more Facebook members, and more Google searches. This means a lot for my professional career as a teacher. I will always be surrounded by media, and what I knew two seconds ago is changing right now. I will have to learn how to use these changes to ready my students for the future.