I like books and teachers and recess...

I was assigned to read an article in class concerning the importance of using technology in education. The article seemed to suggest that without technology, students would not be able to learn. While reading the article, I suddenly felt like an old fashioned thinker! The notion that kids are "powering down" when they go to school because they have to turn of cell phones, social networks, etc. did not seem like a negative to me. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE technology, but I do not feel like education should be all about technology or that students cannot learn anything unless they are using technology. I think education should encompass a variety of learning strategies.

I am bothered that educators are often made to feel that students should be constantly entertained. I have heard that college professors should no longer lecture, but rather capture student's attention with more "progressive" instruction methods. The idea that young adults can no longer listen and take notes without being entertained seems crazy to me. I feel like there is no longer an appreciation for traditional teaching practices. It seems like many want a fun, "fast food" type education, with a diploma taking the place of the cheap toy. I am not suggesting that technology should not be used for instruction nor am I against innovative teaching, but I am not ready to throw away serious scholarship, books, and paper and pencils. Although I feel like the writer of the article had many good thoughts, I still felt uncomfortable with the technology versus tradition attitude. Basically, I just want everyone and everything to get along!

Wrong information is not good. . . just sayin'.

So in today's class we have been looking at the Georgia Standards website.
It has a wealth of information and resources for Georgia teachers. After visiting the site, I am really bothered that a lot of my child's teachers have used teacher websites for instruction, without checking into who actually is publishing the site. Often times the information is wrong, which is really frustrating when I help my child with her homework and the questions are incorrect. I have never brought this to their attention, simply because I admire teachers so much and never want to be an interfering parent, telling them how to do their job. However, if teachers would use authoritative sites such as the Georgia Standards website, this would not be a problem. Heck, an old fashioned textbook would be better! I have to wonder if many teachers do not realize that teacher websites found with Internet search engines are not always reliable resources. As a media specialist, I will make sure teachers understand the importance of using authoritative websites and I will help them locate the best instructional sites.

A long days journey into night...

I did a little sleep walking last night. I was convinced that there were attack bats in my bedroom and I tried to convince my family that we needed to flee. I managed to scare my 10 year old daughter, confuse my cat and dog, and slightly stir my husband, before I woke up and realized what was going on. I learned that if attack bats do get in the house my husband will sleep through it and the rest of us are on our own.

I'm back in class now. More tech talk this morning...


Image from: scienceblogs.com/afarensis/2006/06/16/vampire_bats_and_prey_recognit/

I'm drowning in technology.

I love technology, but I'm not even halfway through this course and I feel like I'm drowning. There is just so much to do on the web. Sometimes I get excited when I learn about a new application, but then I check it out and I decide that it's just too much for me to manage. Just having email, Facebook, and a blog is too much. The internet really is like viewing the whole world from a tiny screen. The screens are getting tinier too, like the one on my iTouch.

Then there is online shopping! It is soooooo easy to find and buy what I want online. It can be addicting. Of course, I have never felt like I was drowning in online stores... drowning in bills, maybe! Tomorrow is day three of the course. I going to bed now because I really need to get off my computer and rest. I hope my brain has some room left for tomorrow's new tech info.

Day 1 of the one week course.

I am spending the day—8 whole hours—in front of a computer. The course I'm taking is Technology in the Modern Media Center. I'm learning lots of cool stuff, but my eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of my head. I hope my friend, Rebecca, who is seated at the computer next to me, will help me stuff them back in if they do pop out. I once heard that eyeballs actually come out of their sockets quite easily. That is scary.

My 1st Semester...

I am starting my first semester at The University of Georgia as a graduate student majoring in Learning, Design, and Technology, with School Library Media certification. I entered UGA in the summer semester and I am taking Children's Literature, Cataloging, and Technology and the Modern Media Center. Three courses down, nine to go! My group, Cohort 10, will start in the fall. Things should really start moving then!