Week 7 Blog : Due February 28, 2010

This is How We Dream: Part 1 & 2

Dr. Richard E. Miller created these videos to show exactly how technology can be used today. He had some very interesting ideas and examples. It was also pretty cool that the information Dr. Miller was presenting was being exemplified through the presentation itself. He was speaking about movies and motion images while these things were on the screen. It gave the viewer a first-hand look at the information. Mr. Miller made an obvious point that most people don't want to hear, myself included. Print is soon to be out of the picture. Books and libraries are no longer a necessity. This upsets me because I love reading books. To me, reading a book is not just about reading the content. The physical book makes it so much better. Maybe I'm one of few who feels this way anymore, but I hope books don't go out of style until way after my lifetime. This also brings another thought to my mind. If books go out of style, and everything is published on the computer, won't that be extra strain on our eyes when we read? I know that if I read a book in poor lighting my eyes start to hurt after a period of time. If I have to read a lengthy article on the computer, my eyes will begin burning. How should I be expected to read an entire book on the computer? These books online are not a thing of the future. They are everywhere in today's world. My concern is that eventually, instead of just printing a copy and putting one on the computer, the printed copy will become extinct.
One thing I found pretty cool on Dr. Miller's video was the motion picture within the body of the text. Call me a dork, but the first thought that came to my mind was the newspaper in Harry Potter. Any picture within the newspaper was moving. There was no such thing as a still image shot. This could make the reading more interesting, and it would break it up a little by placing a video to watch between two paragraphs. Also, more information could be presented, and it provides two different learning styles with an activity. Some people gain more information by reading the material, but some gain more by hearing someone else say it. Both of these learning styles would be exemplified within this document.
I particularly liked the statement Dr. Miller made about ideas belonging to us as a culture, not to us as individuals. We need to unite and share our ideas if we want to progress. I also really liked the emotional profiling that was introduced in this video. It would be cool to find out what the predominant emotions were in each city. This technology could also be used for so much more. I'm not sure that I'm prepared to teach about technology this extensively; however, through this class, I am learning more about what I need to know. One issue with learning this technology is that the classroom I will most likely be teaching in will be lucky to even have a SmartBoard. The finances are just not that readily available at this point in time. Does that mean it's a waste of time trying to become tech-savvy? No, it may not be long before this technology is more available and widespread.

The Networked Student

This video reminded me a great deal of what we are doing in EDM 310 this semester. Dr. Strange and Mr. Tashbin have been advising us to build a personal learning network. This personal learning network is the equivalent to the connectivity in this video. Through our personal learning network, we will encounter many different views on MANY different topics. As an education major, I am generally following teachers' blogs, but a personal learning network can be created for any subject. I'm not easily persuaded so I was always the student who questioned the textbook. The good thing about this is that you are not completely reliable on the textbook. In the past, I've encountered some fairly biased textbooks. I mean, humans write these books so it's hard to say that they are pure fact. This is not to say that nothing on the internet is biased, but by viewing different sources, you are more able to determine between fact and opinion.
My thoughts on teaching these students has not changed much since I've entered this classroom. I believe that I will be prepared to handle all of this technology, but I'm not so sure I could necessarily teach it to others. Once I've finished this class, I hope this view has changed. I want to have a technologically advanced classroom. It's hard for me to imagine, however, because I plan to teach kindergarten. I know that 5 years olds these days can use technology, but most of the examples I've seen in this class show 1st graders and above using the technology. I'll have to do some research to see what's going on in the kindergarten classroom.

Toward a New Future of Whatever

This video brought to mind many things I've never considered. I know media has a major impact on our lives, but I never focused on the extent of this impact. The media of today's world (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc) shapes our environment and our conversations. Different statements may be made depending on the type of media tool being used. In my own personal case, I would be more likely to say something through text than through video. While most social networking tools are not anonymous, my comfort level with videos makes me feel very vulnerable when using them. The point was made in this video that people are becoming more daring in what they say on these media tools because of the anonymity, as well as the distance. If you are negative in a comment to someone who lives across the world from your home, the chances of you running into this person and it becoming a problem are slim to none.
I also agree that today's society is much more focused on themselves. The words "I" and "me" are probably being used more now than ever. People are very focused on what they are doing and what they want from society. This can lead to narcissistic tendencies or self-consciousness. Both of these paths are equally likely. The example was made about American Idol. People audition for American Idol knowing that they will make it and go on the win the coveted title. This shows their narcissistic views. These views often lead to major disappointment. Taking the alternative path of self-consciousness, we see the not-so-great replay option. When people are posting videos on YouTube, they have so much to consider. They have to consider the content of their video. They also have to consider the huge audience that will see this video once it's placed on YouTube. They also have to get past the fact that they are not talking to an individual, but to a camera that will broadcast this video to many individuals. One other thing they have to consider is how they appear to themselves. Most people do not pay attention to detail when they are having a conversation because, unless they are being filmed, it cannot be replayed. The option of replaying something leads to the greatest self-consciousness and self awareness in my opinion. Self-consciousness seems to be the negative terminology, while self awareness puts a positive connotation to the meaning. Either way, people are paying more attention to the details of themselves.