Thursday, October 24, 2013

Reaction to Chapter 1 of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, by Will Richardson

After reading chapter one of Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, by Will Richardson I have to agree with the statement that he quoted from Dan Gillmor, “The people who’ll understand this best are probably just being born” (Gillmor, 2005).  This is so true when I look at my own children who are two and five years of age.  My two year old already knows how to unlock our iPhones and select her app for PBS or Disney.  My five year old knows how to go to the app store and view new apps she wants to download.   When my mom aka “Grammy” is watching the girls and the TV goes off a station or the cable box is turned off, she asks the girls to fix it because she has no idea what to do.   
 
I also agree with the statement by William D. Winn on page 8 that, “…years of computer use results in children who “think differently from us. They develop hypertext minds. They leap around”” (Prensky, 2001a) (Richardson 2010).  I think this is a good/bad thing when looking at how the upcoming generation thinks.  Yes, it is great they are understanding and using technology better than we did at that age but it also creates a generation who thinks in instant gratification.  Patient seems to be a dying virtue with the next generations.  If something takes more, than 30 seconds to download, you have lost their attention and they have moved on to the next thought in their mind.

 Finally, I really enjoyed the section on keeping students safe.  This huge task really needs to the first thought on every educators mind when introducing technology into the class especially with the Internet.  I know when my five year old entered kindergarten we had to sign a letter stating that we gave permission for our daughter to use the computer.  Expanding technology in the class is great, but also being full aware of the potential risks involve is also important.  Overall, I found that this chapter had many great points and referenced some every interesting facts and statements.

 Reference:

 Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

6 comments:

  1. Hi Sarah,

    I have to agree that it is amazing how small children can learn to use technology so quickly. I have a 19 month old that can use a cell phone (well kind of) and turn the TV on by herself. I am sure that when she is older it will be very easy for her to use technology because it has been a part of her life from the very beginning.

    That being said, as a teacher in the community college environment I see students that are traditional (pretty much right out of high school) as well as non-traditional (returning to college later in life). What I have noticed is that the non-traditional students do have a more difficult time adapting to the use of new technology. This is not to say that they cannot learn to use it effectively and efficiently, but that it may just take a little longer to get there.

    -Sam

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Sarah! The kids are growing up with technology. I have a kindle, but I still like the feel of paper and the look of words on paper. Your second paragraph is perfect and makes an outstanding point. Kids are much more technologically advanced than we were or in some cases are. They do lack in other, as I like to say, more human qualities. Patients and discipline seem to be lacking, their heads are mesmerized by the gadgets and they don't see the real world around them. I fear we are all on a slippery slope and must teach students about technology both good and bad.

    Reference:

    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Sarah! The kids are growing up with technology. I have a kindle, but I still like the feel of paper and the look of words on paper. Your second paragraph is perfect and makes an outstanding point. Kids are much more technologically advanced than we were or in some cases are. They do lack in other, as I like to say, more human qualities. Patients and discipline seem to be lacking, their heads are mesmerized by the gadgets and they don't see the real world around them. I fear we are all on a slippery slope and must teach students about technology both good and bad.

    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Sarah! The kids are growing up with technology. I have a kindle, but I still like the feel of paper and the look of words on paper. Your second paragraph is perfect and makes an outstanding point. Kids are much more technologically advanced than we were or in some cases are. They do lack in other, as I like to say, more human qualities. Patients and discipline seem to be lacking, their heads are mesmerized by the gadgets and they don't see the real world around them. I fear we are all on a slippery slope and must teach students about technology both good and bad.

    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks Sarah! The kids are growing up with technology. I have a kindle, but I still like the feel of paper and the look of words on paper. Your second paragraph is perfect and makes an outstanding point. Kids are much more technologically advanced than we were or in some cases are. They do lack in other, as I like to say, more human qualities. Patients and discipline seem to be lacking, their heads are mesmerized by the gadgets and they don't see the real world around them. I fear we are all on a slippery slope and must teach students about technology both good and bad.

    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Sarah! The kids are growing up with technology. I have a kindle, but I still like the feel of paper and the look of words on paper. Your second paragraph is perfect and makes an outstanding point. Kids are much more technologically advanced than we were or in some cases are. They do lack in other, as I like to say, more human qualities. Patients and discipline seem to be lacking, their heads are mesmerized by the gadgets and they don't see the real world around them. I fear we are all on a slippery slope and must teach students about technology both good and bad.

    Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classrooms, Will Richardson, 2009, p.1-16

    ReplyDelete