Hello, here are some of this weeks discussion/blogging cues:-feel free to ask if you don't understand a question!
1. Explain your understanding of the Backward Design of Understanding?
2. Pick one of the 6 Key Emerging Technologies from the Horizon report and give a brief description of it. Also include an example of how it is being used in academics today or how it might be in the future. This can either be an example from the text or a creative way that you think it might be used in the future!
3. Do you agree with the quote, "Learning in almost any subject today means not only learning the concepts, but also how to use technologies in that endeavor"? Why or why not and explain your reasoning. (refer to Educational Technology: Media for...)
4. According to Neil Postman, what is a technopoly? Do you believe that the United States is a technopoly, why or why not? If so, how do you a technopoly manifesting itself in today's society?
5. According to the article: "What Neal Postman Has to Say..." there are two different worlds: the world of the printed word and the world of television. The article claims children live in a world of television and come to school conditioned by the biases of television. Do you agree with this statement? What does this mean to us as teachers?
*You do not have to post a responce to all of these topic questions!
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Children do live in a world of television. They come to school conditioned by the biases of television. This has many different implications for teachers in the classroom. They come with a preconceived notion about how the world works, how the world looks. For example, the majority of nightly sitcoms are of white middle class families. It is our responsibility as teachers to educate our students in the similarities and differences of the world. They also come with less imagination and more instant gratification. Instead of being in the world of the printed word, where they have to use their cognitive skills to picture what is happening, they have instant gratification in the world of television with the images in front of them. It is important for teachers to start early in motivating students to read and, importantly, motivate them to enjoy it.
I agree with Audrey. I think children do come from a world of television where they only see the typical middle to upper class white Americans. Children then unconsciously develop a thinking that is what really exists in America especially if they are living an area that is middle to upper class Americans. As teachers it is our job to expose students to other cultures and races so that students can develop a tolerance for differences that they will eventually face in the real world.
I also think that students have this preconceived notion of "instant fame". Television shows today are more reality-based today and I think students see how easy it is to become a "reality star" and often lack the motivation to do their best in school. As a teacher it is also our responsibility to keep students motivated to want to learn more and to want to succeed in school because let's face it...being a "reality star" only means five minutes of fame and then what are you going to do with your life after that if you don't have a quality education?
Thinking about your comment, Audrey, in getting students motivated to read I am wondering if we, as teachers, should encourage students to read books, magazines, and newspapers (the traditional form of print), or if we should encourage them to read print on-line. I am questioning this because after seeing the video on You Tube for last week's class: "A Vision of K-12 students Today", students are only spending two hours reading a book a week while they are spending more than double that amount of time on the computer (five and a half hours). Students this day and age are also digital learners so as teachers should we continue to encourage them to read traditional material or should we encourage them to read print on-line (from reputable web-sites of course)? Should we also encourage students to listen to books on tape? I mean don't get me wrong I am definitely a book worm myself and couldn't imagine my life without books but children today are different from when I was growing up. I know from experience that getting children to sit down and read a book is like pulling teeth. During subbing last year I was constantly faced with situations where students would get done early and they were supposed to read a book when they were finished. Every student would try to worm their way out of reading and they would either ask to go on the computer or draw. I would tell them no, they needed to read because those were the instructions left for me but I know that those students didn't read...they were staring off in space daydreaming waiting for the next lesson. But if I had a student read a chapter from a book on-line or listen to a book on tape I believe they would be more willing to actually do that because it is more "technical" which is essentially what they are accustomed to in this day and age.
My understanding of the backward design is that a teacher needs to start with what they want to accomplish at the end of a lesson or unit. Instead of starting with an activity and putting standards is as fits, the teacher will start with the standards and what he or she wants their students to learn. The purpose of their studying, what they are so supposed to walk away with, the understanding that the students gained.
Each lesson is thought of carefully and developed with what is to be learned and what is to be understood. The activities are developed after that.
My understanding of backward design is similiar to what Lori said. I understood it as teachers need to think about what they want students to learn from the lesson they are teaching and think about how their teaching is going allow students to accomplish the learning goals. I know when I was student teaching and designing lesson plans for assignments in my undergrad program I was guilty of thinking about the activity first and then thinking about what knowledge they would acquire after the activity. I think I subconsciously fell into that pattern because our lesson plan format that we were required to use had the assessment of the learning goals at the end of the lesson plan and not the beginning.
After reading the article it makes more sense to me to think about what they are going to learn first and then to design the lesson around the learning goals.
Pick one of the 6 Key Emerging Technologies.
I chose collaborative webs from the Horizon report on the key emerging technologies. Collaborative webs allow meetings to be held online, exchange information, and edit documents in collaboration with others. This is a great resource to use in the classroom, especially for high school students. Students may edit their peers’ papers, collectively compile research, and meet in groups to complete an assignment. This may be a little overbearing for younger students. Yet this could be used in the classroom by the teacher to show how to edit a story, or document written. As a faculty this would be great to share information with colleagues in different buildings, or from home. Meetings could be conducted outside of the school building.
Printed word vs. World of television
I definitely agree that children live in a world of television and come to school conditioned by the biases of television. Some times I really wonder if kids know and understand the difference between reality and fiction. Students watch so much television every day, yet I am sure if you asked them what shows they are watching it won’t be the news or anything very educational. The television has become a parent's babysitter and entertainment for children. Teachers than have to compete with these visual aides that students seek in school. I think Audrey makes a good point about students lacking the cognitive skills that are required in school. Many students cannot obtain a mental picture of a story without a picture directly in front of them. To address Lauren’s concern about students being allowed to read books online, I think it should be allowed. However, I do think allowing students to listen to books should be limited. Many students do have the ability to comprehend auditory information, but cannot do so when they have to read it themselves. I would try to hold students accountable for what they read by having them take turns reading aloud to the teacher, and answering questions about the book.
To add to what Lauren said earlier about students seeking “instant fame” and seeing it on the television. I really worry about the self-image children are creating about themselves while watching television.
amyh.....Oh you better believe that children live in a world of television! Can you say Hannah Montanna? Just take a look around your elementary school. Do you see any authors with the exception of Dr Seuss... on any shirts? The teacher has to stress to students that television is a totally different world.Many of today's inner city students see on tv sports and atheletes.they see the glory and $ and that is what the want to do when they grow up. As adults, we know that their chances of becoming a world class athlete is slim and none. Just because their chances are slim do we discourage them? I read one teacher's response to this question and I have thought about this everytime I hear I want to be .......when I grow up. Her answer to the student was that is a wondeful ambition and yes you can be sucessful, but if that doesn't work out what would you like to do then. She also told the child if you do succeed in the sport what do you think you will do if you should get hurt. Stress the importance to have education as a back up. Usually it will be first instead of a back up.
We have to compete with the excitement of the Hannah Montannas and the O'Neals of the TV world. Which means are imaginations and creativity has to be going all of the time. It isn't easy but it can be done. We need to retrain their brains to think that their andour creativity is just as exciting as TVs. Take them on adventures through books. Make them think!!!! They may just enjoy it!
I completely agree with the quote "learning in almost any subject today means not only learning the concepts, but also how to use technologies in that endeavor." As teachers we have a responsibility to prepare students for the future, and the world we live in today requires that we know and understand technology. Creating a classroom in which some form of technology based lessons are integrated into each subject taught, ensures that students will be able to see new ways of learning the material, and become more familiar with technology. I also believe that learning how to use technologies along with the concepts being taught will allow the student to be a more self directed learner. The article on Educational technology states "new media are interactive, and conducive to active, engaged learning. Students can choose what to see and do, and they have media to record and extend what they
learn. Learning is thus driven by the individual needs and interests of the learner". Software programs and the internet provide unlimited opportunites for learners to integrate new concepts, and therefore, we have a responsibility to allow students as much access as possible.
I would agree that children do come from a world of television. Some students do spend the majority of their night in front of the TV instead of reading a book. This causes the students to view shows and even commercials that are not appropriate for their viewing. I feel that our perception of what is appropriate to watch has changed over the years. Just like technology is ever changing, so is our lives and what is being presented before us. I think students come to school with an idea of what life is suppose to be like because of what they watch at home. As teachers, it is our responsibility to educate children about diversity in the world as well as bring back the “world of the print word”.
Children DO live in a world of television, and it is said that the average child spends about 4 hours watching TV each day. Although there are a many shows out there that are educational and will assist children in their learning, I believe there are just as many TV shows that depict violence and risky behavior. Children come into the schools then with their own idea of how the world works around them, and in reality, they are way off. It can be extremely hard for teachers to teach their students, as students are not as interested in learning by textbooks. However, as teachers, I believe it is our job to get students reading as soon as they enter grade school (picture books, chapter books, textbooks, etc.). By doing so, we can even compare and contrast similarities and differences between the world of television and the world of print.
Dr. Postman has some intriguing and unique views but I have to admit that they definitely begin to get you thinking a little deeper about topics you wouldn't normally "deeply think" about! I just began his book, "THE END OF EDUCATION." A definite must-read for all you educators out there...oh wait, isn't that all of us?!?!?!
Okay, so anyways, CHILDREN DEFINITELY LIVE IN A WORLD OF TELEVISION!!! As teachers, we can certainly see the who the individuals are that are not able to watch TV at home...they stick out like sore thumbs. Here's a little tidbit, my nephew and niece are in 1st and 2nd grade. My sister and brother-in-law (their parents) refuse to have cable TV hookup and refuse to allow their children to be on the Internet without either parent sitting right beside them. I am not saying that this is wrong but possibly borderlining it (parenting is such a trial and error). My niece and mephew are extremely intelligent individuals who are both involved in extracurricular activities beyond the "normal" student as well as being involved in Academic Enrichment programs at their school, however they are entering an age where kids are picking up that they are not sure who SpongeBob Squarepants, Timmy Turner, and Zach and Cody are because they are not allowed to watch those programs. Socially they are beginning to lose a lot of confidence just by not having this prior knowledge. Furthermore, when they are near a TV, they are so focused on the program and watching it as much as they can, that they refuse to do anything else. I don't know about you, but I am a real good multi-tasker because of TV!
I feel it is very important for children to have the TV- as a resource of enjoyment, but also as a resource of education. My 3 year old son loves watching Dora and Diego- he can speak better spanish than my husband and I can! Even that Pinky Dinky Doo program has pre-schoolers working with sequencing the episode directly after it is finished. THIS IS AWESOME! As a teacher, I think these programs are what will further enhance our future students and prepare them for the tasks that lie ahead- I am speaking of the lovely NYS tests they will take in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th-12th grades.. I may be going out on a limb here but with the ways of inclusion, I am sure that soon enough we will be determining which students will take a test better using a CPS system rather than pencil and paper.
To finish the above statement, the entertainment issue surrounding TV (SpongeBob, The Fairly Oddparents, etc...) watch one of these shows at some point and I bet you all that you will be amused- at least a little. For some of our students, this is all they have when they are at home. These TV programs may give them a source of enjoyment, and even encourage some creativity within their minds for a future assignment that you or I may assign them - PRIOR KNOWLEDGE, hint, hint... it all comes down to prior knowledge.
According to Neil Postman, Technopoly is a state of culture, state of mind; it is also when life becomes inadequate to cope with too much information. He also states that it is what happens when a culture over come by information generated by technology and then tries to incorporate it as a mean of providing clear direction and humane purpose. I believe the United States is somewhat a Technopoly because people rely information systems/technology to get information and has become a norm if not a necessity for our day and age.
I do agree with Neil Postman statement of printed words vs. television because as teachers we have notice that children spend a lot of time watching television. The time increases when children are in front of video games. So as educators we need/should base lessons through a different mode of instruction. That being said, we also have to keep printed words balanced with technological strategies. Students of the future are going to be more media/technological base than ever before. We as teachers and future teachers need to keep up with the fast past of the children and the need for printed words and television.
#4 According to Neil Postman, a technopoly is a stacte of culture/state of mind in which technology has become so ingrained and so much a part of life, that we (united states) turn to it to solve all of our problems. New technology increases the amount of information available to poeple, which creates the need for more restarinst which creates the need for somehting else, and something else, and it is a neverending cycle. So in a technopoly, the concensus would be to look to new technology to solve the existing and future problems.... However, the reality of the situation, is that new technology (computers) cannot solve every problem, in fact it cant solve some of the most fundamental problems (family breakups, starvation...). To classify the Unites States as a technopoly would be fairly accurate, but i dont feel as though we (U.S) are the only nation in the world with this similar view on technology and the changing world we live in.
#5 I agree to a certain extent that children grow up in a television influenced world. But to say that every child, or most children may be making a blanket statement. Not all children prefer the television to a good book. I feel as thouhg every situation is contextual, and has a lot to do with a child's upbringing and parent presense. My sister for example is 11 years old and she loves to read. I cannot get her to watch a show or game with me on tv. Every child is different in terms of their likes/dislikes and their ability to learn in different ways, and as im sure we all know teacher shave to implement differeent teaching styles to account for this fact. Teachers cannot just assume that every child "fits a certain bill". Therefore I think it is important for teachers to recognize that these television based biases may exist, but not simply assume that they do.
Ok, here is a summary/presentation of this week's blog discussion.
Thank Lauren, Theresa and Alison for taking leadership in coming up with questions for the discussion. The questions are open-ended and make good coverage of the readings of the week.
It seems many had deep feelings about children conditioned by the biases of television (9 posted on this topic). We might all have inspired by jlatta’s s applauds of Postman’s book THE END OF EDUCATION and go to read it . One good point is that the posts/comments come from your own life/teaching experiences. Another good point is that in your post you refer to what others said about a point as what Christine did “to add to Lauren said earlier about…” Other good points include relating the issue to our teaching, like audreyd516 went further to relate the readings/perspectives to our own teaching, talk about teachers responsibilities to help students. It is always easy to talk about what we see and what we experience. But we might need to go deeper into the message the piece of reading (or writing, if you want) tries to convey. Deeper reflections on the reading – what Postman really tried to say about the invasion, dominance or control (Postman would not say any of these terms are too strong), of technology, to what we do and what we think (Postman…). His point is that we human beings let tools rule over our mind. Going from there, perhaps we can reflect more on good use/integration of technology with the purpose of advancing understanding and learning?
There are two comments (by Lori and Lauren) on backward design. Lauren put forward her understanding from the reading and referred to what others (Lori) had said about this issue and then related to self experience. That is an exemplar post – relate to the readings (better yet, quotes from the readings), refer to what other said, and relate to experiences.
Only one post was made (by Kathryn) on the quote "learning in almost any subject today means not only learning the concepts, but also how to use technologies in that endeavor."
Here are some suggestions to the class for making more effective blog posts. Perhaps follow Blog Moderating and Presentation Project guidelines more closely – tie our posts closely to the readings themselves instead of merely putting forward opinions/feelings/experiences, ask hard/provocative questions to elicit/motivate more comments/answers to these questions?
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