Thursday, August 25, 2011
Why We Need To Teach Technology in School
Please watch the video "Why We Need To Teach Technology in School." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VnHdqpE4RM What is your reaction? In your opinion, is the video correct or incorrect or biased?In what specific ways should the content of this video impact education? Before September 12, add your thoughts in the comments section. You are invited to comment on other colleagues' comments.
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Cool video. It's interesting to know that "technology" has exsisted through our whole history and it shows the importance of adapting and moving foward with technology.
ReplyDeleteThe initial concept of the video is excellent: to show the development of technology through time. I liked the images and the music. However, I thought the presentation of the video lacked some punch. The text is bland and hard to read. The text blocks some of the pictures. There’s no sense of a culmination or peak.
ReplyDeleteAs to the message of the video, I don’t think the author achieves his aim of answering why we should teach technology. He doesn’t persuade me. His final point seems to be that we should teach technology to students because without us they will learn it on their own, which is apparently a dangerous proposition.
I don’t think the author is biased or even incorrect; he’s just vague. Again, the concept is excellent. With some work, this video could really be great.
This thought provoking, albeit not quite motivating, video about how rapidly technology is changing before our very eyes does make me realize how the rate of change ratchets up with each passing day. Though the video is poorly produced, has misspelled words, and doesn’t impress me with its own sharp use of technology, it still demonstrates how we have moved from rudimentary communication methods to a world of instant, constant communication.
ReplyDeleteThe video uses an age-old scare tactic common in parenting, especially popular in arenas where the adults don’t always know as much as the children. The notion in the video is that if we don’t teach them the “right way” to use technology, they will learn it anyway and may even learn to use it in a bad or wrong way. This is akin to scaring parents into talking to kids about sex. Many parents figure they’d better talk to their kids about sex or God knows what wrong they’ll learn about it. As a parent of teenagers, if I started talking now, I’d be way too late. Sustainable and relatable technology should be incorporated into our curriculum as much as possible from the early childhood years and should echo technology use in their outside-of-school lives.
The overall content of the video was an important idea. I liked how the author highlighted the idea that we must not only educate our students on current technology, but also prepare them for the technology that is yet to come. Creating critical thinkers is something that I find a challenge, but a very important task. The quote about engaging or enraging was also well placed.
ReplyDeleteThe production of the video was sparse, but perhaps it was a demonstration of how fast something can be put together to make a point. I would have put a little more into it, but the images did their job. The only real criticism I have is that the first two and a half minutes were very repetitive and slow moving. Maybe the author was looking for a dramatic effect.
The video's message was clear. Technology must be used to inspire students to develop 21st-century skills ("creation, manipulation, innovation, and knowledge construction"). And the time to embrace technology is now, or the United States may fall behind in a rapidly evolving global society.
ReplyDeleteI think the video's production says two things. First, the YouTube video is an example of how technology can convey a message using an engaging media. Second, it shows that if employed poorly, technology can diminish the author's message.
The video and its associated text present some interesting and provoking thoughts. My favorite part was the portrayal of the wheel and primitive tools as early technology. Absolutely correct! The desktop and laptop will be a flash in the pan (IMHO) as our information technology equipment takes a turn toward mobile and tablet devices to access resources in the cloud. The access tools will change, but pervasive wireless fields will continue to evolve to allow access to information no matter where we are. From now on, humans will rely on ubiquitous information access as heavily as we rely on the primitive wheel.
ReplyDeleteWhile the text/picture combinations were interesting, the production of the video was merely a looped powerpoint presentation and wasn't really engaging. Maybe I've become a video snob since there are such great tools available that produce nice results very cheaply and easily! It was difficult to get past the misspellings and difficult-to-read text placed over the images in a video aimed at the importance of education.
Even though the video says that kids want to learn and are ready to learn, I feel many times that kids are way ahead of us in technology. There seem to be countless numbers of times that I recall kids using new technology before us.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that not one of us hasn't had a kid or student who knew how to use new equipment or technology before we ever did.
The video was not the best produced, but it does demonstrate the speed at which technology changes.
By the time this was produced, 10 new things will have been invented.
Mankind is always making changes and future changes build from pass changes. Our knowledge base has expanded tremendously in the past century. Therefore, changes are more numerous, significant and beneficial. Most of the changes emanate from three previous discoveries: the wheel, the printing press, and the transistor. So, what will our technology world be like in the year 2030?
ReplyDeleteFrom Heather,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of this video. It shows the development of technology through the ages. It broadens our ideas of what technology is and how some of those new technologies were met with resistance to change.
However, I did think the video was biased somewhat when it said that without our intervention students would engage technology on their own. The impression was that this was bad. I agree that students need to be taught internet safety and such, but there are many resources for this and school is only one of them. We do need to be doing a better job incorporating technolgy into our students' learning process however.
I wasn't convinced from what was presented that technolgy must be incorporated into schools. Instead of saying that the kids are already there and we need to intervene before they get themselves into trouble, I think the point should be that the kids are already there and we need to catch up to engage them and prepare them for their futures. This was part of the video's message, but I think it was lost because it wasn't the main point.
I think for those resistant to using technolgy in their classrooms this video has some good points, but I don't see it convincing any of them to give it a try.
I apologize if I duplicate my original comment. This video made me realize that things now infused into our daily lives were, at one time, new and exciting creations. I remember that every time the power goes out. The problem is, as we get older, we can't get stuck in a past era. If we still view the overhead projector as being something new and exciting, the kids won't be able to relate to us or our lesson as well as if we join their generation and the new generation of tools available to motivate, teach and engage them. Sometimes it's even a bonding experience to let them teach us when it comes to technology.
ReplyDeleteThis video is engaging in the fact that it shows how technologies have changed throughout history. It also attempts to demonstrate the importance of everyone accepting and adapting to these technologies or else be left behind. Technology is exciting and our students are hungry to learn with it, that is what a 21st century student looks like, creating, manipulating and analyzing with technology tools.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am not sure that the author of the video really achieved his objective of why technology should be used in schools. I felt that it was showing a progression of technology evolution rather than technology integration into education. I think that the last minute of the video that showed a compilation of technology tools that could be integrated into the classroom was the most effective part of the video. That is what our students are using, knowing and expecting in their everyday lives. That is what he should have based his video on, what is impacting education today.
I think that this video was pretty interesting. We forget that technology is something that has been around for quite some time. While it may be biased, the fact that students will engage in technology with or without us is completely true. I think sometimes we forget that technology can mean many different things. Being a music teacher, I feel like sometimes I forget to think outside of the box when it comes to technology. There are things the students are doing that I can incorporate into my classroom that they will benefit from. Even games such Rockband could have a place in my classroom to help engage students where they are at!
ReplyDeleteWell, the video is correct in the sense that technology is ever changing. Technology is very important in today's world. If we fail to stay updated with it, then we will fall behind or we remain stagnant both as whole and as a single entity. For example, what if the telegraph or light bulb were never invented? What if we did not created Little Boy and Fat Man in the Manhattan Project? Well, the first answer is that the entire world would continue to live without phones and light. The second answer is that we might be a completely different nation if we did not end WWII with a couple big bangs. These two technology advanced creations COMPLETELY changed how we live.
ReplyDeleteThe video did not provide ways to incorporate technology in the classroom. Instead, the video simply explained that technology should be taught to our students. And I totally agree. As a nation, we must constantly be updated. This is the technology era. We will be doing each other a disservice is we do not understand the importance of technology in the classroom, and act.
Also, the video doesn’t suggest how to use technology either. Or who should use it either. Should teachers use technology to teach students? Should teachers simply teach technology to students? Do students use the technology or just learn about it? There is ambiguity here. BUT, the overall message like I said is that students need to learn technology. The rest is up to us to interpret.
The video was thought provoking, and in some ways correct. There are a lot of technological devises out there that could be beneficial learning tools. I also see many of them brought into schools on a daily basis, but not to be used as the learning tools they could be. The students will use it whether we expose them to it or not. But, through guided exposure we could help them to see how they could use the same tools that entertain them to further their education. However, this video in no way addresses how one would go about providing the technology to practice with or how to implement them into the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I found this video very hard to understand. Given my vision problems I had to watch it several times because I could not read the text. It was obscured by the pictures in the background and moved to quickly in many cases.
As I write these comments I am listening to the Beatles first record (on vinyl) produced in the USA on a real turntable. Isn’t technology grand?
ReplyDeleteI have to keep reminding myself that the most compelling reason to use technology in teaching is that one of formal education’s major purpose is to prepare kids (students) for the world they will live in. And they will be living in a world more dominated by technology.
Technology can be used to teach with – teach writing skills, science data collection and analysis, world languages, and even production of art – and technology is used to teach about the technology – how to use computers, produce videos, collect data, design buildings and cars, use cell phones productively, etc, etc, etc.
I believe that a teacher should be able to engage students without extensive use of “technology”. Students want to learn relevant information and skills and will learn when they are engaged with technology or with non-technology activities that are well designed. I have used many low tech highly engaging activities very successfully.
So, the quote “We need to engage them or enrage them.” is true with or without technology.
Below is the web address (two versions- two web addresses) for a video that is similar to the one Dr. Topp provided but I think it does a better job of compelling us to use technology to both teach with and to teach about. It is not that technology has not changed in the past – it has always changed – it is that the rate of change is much greater and therefore harder to keep up with for both adults and kids. The river is running faster.
Did You Know: Shift Happens
Original version (about 2007)– a bit dated but good – I like this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q
2010(?) Version – a little slicker and updated for newer tech – both about and used for making the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY
The Dr. Topp video is a bit dated, 2007, but is does the job of having us think and discuss about technology. Don’t get lost in the media, focus on the message.
The video does imply that technology changes our live. All technology does change lives. That’s the purpose and reason for technology. That is why mankind (human kind) develops technology. Technology is neutral. It is the application of it that is positive or negative. But, you cannot have positive without negative.
The questions I have include not should schools be doing/using technology but:
How much technology should be used?
Who is funding the technology?
Who/how are teachers being educated and trained on technology?
What is the appropriate technology to use? In what situations with what topics?
Should the emphasis be on teaching with the technology to improve the learning of a topic and let the learning about the technology be secondary/incidental?
Or, should learning about the uses of technology be the emphasis? (I believe that you let the situation dictate the emphasis – some classes will use the technology and some will teach/train about it.)
Why schools need to “do/use technology”? Because they are the great playing field leveler. There are students that do not jump on the use of tech with both feet. There are many students that cannot afford extensive technology devices and their uses. Many haves and have-nots.
Comments on comments: Most of the comments are good and I generally agree with them. Wireless for all and cloud computing is coming (returning). I agree that a tone in the video is that teachers need to “save” kids from bad uses of technology and some of this needs to be done. We teach kids to be save in many aspects of their lives – save walk to school, crime prevention, no bullying, etc.
The article presents some interesting points. I did find two primary flaws in the reasoning. The video presents primary innovation after primary innovation claiming that people must embrace new technology quickly or “be left behind.” However, history does reveal that for every primary innovation there are hundreds of substandard ones. It is important to incorporate technology into schools but there must be a balance maintained between the expedited introduction of technology and a period to assess the effectiveness of that technology. Furthermore even if a technology proves to be innovative and sustainable it is not guaranteed that that technology is appropriate for education. Just because something exists does not make it educational. Quality innovations are sometimes simply meant for a purpose outside of education.
ReplyDeleteThe second problem with the video is the threat of children experiencing technology on their own without our guidance. This argument is deliberately threatening and unnecessary. Hearing it makes me reminiscent of arguments I have heard for the legalization of controlled substances. Children should be given access to technology but there are age restrictions on access. Some technologies need to be held due to possible abuses by younger users. Secondary institutions should have a much greater array of technological opportunities than elementary schools. Technologies should become more eclectic and advanced as students become more responsible and accountable for their actions.
All that being said I do feel that technology in schools is highly important. Given the limited budgets of educational institutions it is imperative that people in power invest in the right technologies at the right stages of students’ developments. I suggest that educational professionals look to the business community to ascertain what technologies are important now in the post high school world and what technologies may be vital to students remaining competitive in job acquisition in the future.
I thought it was interesting that the video included technology examples all the way back to tools and the wheel. Often times we don't think of those as 'technology' and it was a good reminder. The timeline of inventions that was created by the pictures was interesting and really made you think about how much technology has changed. However, I don't think the video itself was very well produced. The author wanted to convince the viewer that technology should be taught in schools but instead of presenting any real arguments it mostly just talked about how technology changes and we should keep up. For some reason the video was more like a warning against letting students learn technology on their own? I didn't quite understand how that fit into what the message was supposed to be. I would have liked to see more valid arguments with evidence backing up the author's idea. The video was also poorly made and was about as interesting in its design as a powerpoint presentation. This video goes to show that technology is a great resource and can be used to reach many people, but its impact depends on whether that technology is used effectively - a real reason students should be taught technology in schools.
ReplyDeleteakdkjf
ReplyDeleteI agree that the text is difficult to read and I don't know of any classroom that uses an avatar. As a music teacher, I appreciate that the music starts minimal (same as man in simple) and builds as the video gets more advanced and complex.
ReplyDeleteThe video wants to portray "technology in schools" but towards the end it seems to only promote "technology safety for children." He has the right idea, but I think it's more promoting Internet safety than keeping up to date with technology.
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ReplyDeleteJohn, what a great YouTube video. We are truly living in exponential times!
ReplyDeleteI think that the basics of education and learning have not changed and these include focus, hard work, and a desire to learn. That is still very important for students to learn, comprehend and understand the basic core topics of core topics such as language arts, social studies, mathematics and science. With out knowing the basics it is difficult if not impossible to be creative and be a part of the creative industries that are becoming the new norm today.
ReplyDeleteWhat has changed, if not the basic concepts and topics is the technology. Good teachers have always used the latest and greatest technologies available to them whether it was textbooks, overhead projectors or 16mm films. I can show creative and functional uses of these technologies. What is changing today is not the core but the technologies used to teach the core. There are three ways that technologies have changed and are changing. (1) The multitude and variety of technologies that are available, (2) the rate of change of the technologies (and the rate is accelerating) and (3) the change in students (kids) in their methods of receiving and reacting to information.
A concern of mine is teachers becoming so enthralled in the fancy new technologies that they loose sight of the basic cores of focus and hard work that students still need to be successful. The technology used should enhance and improve the learning the basic core not cloud and obscure it.
I have looked at about 10 of the Kahn Academy videos/learning materials for Physics.
ReplyDeleteYou should check the Kahn Academy out. Many topics and a lot! of videos.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
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