It’s important to know about Olivia’s
relationship to technology because students frequently use it in non-academic
ways. Asking them to use that same
technology to complete a project or present ideas in class can be a positive experience
for the student. It’s a way of connecting
with them in a language that they already understand. Peaking their interest is beneficial in
keeping them engaged in class. It is
helpful to ascertain the type of access students have to technology. Assigning a student work that they cannot
complete because of lack of resources and access does not make sense.
If
I were asked a few months ago to identify the three most important
communication technologies in my life I would have given a completely different
answer. Having studied the topic a few
months ago has given me a clearer viewpoint.
In order of importance books are #1, the computer is # 2 and my cellular
phone is # 3.
Books
have always been a staple in my life. My parents read to me when I was a child,
and eventually I had to learn on my own.
Just like any other student this is how I get the bulk of my classroom
information. It is a staple that is used all they way from grammar school and
throughout college. As a teenager I
always listed reading as one of my hobbies.
It was one of my favorite things to do.
And as I live by the motto, “If you don’t know how do to something read
a book about it, it still is.
Like
some of the students in the second video, I also
feel that my laptop is a necessity in all aspects of my life. In school it
saves me a lot of time and energy. Not only is it used to complete most of my schoolwork
but also how I gain access to any and all additional information relevant to
school. Some examples would be
Blackboard, and registration on WESS. I’m
a better student because I can gain access to more information in a shorter
period of time.
My
laptop has affected my personal life in positive ways as well. I have family members and friends in other states and
countries and it has changed my mode of communication. No longer do I have to pick up the phone; I
can use Face Time or Skype. A lot of my favorite shows can be watched online and
My
art portfolio is housed on my computer.
I am also a huge YouTube fan. The
things I have learned by watching others are too much to enumerate. They range from learning how to use Photoshop
features, how to perfect metal working techniques, and to what products to use
in my natural hair. This is a great
communication tool for someone like me who is visually inclined.
My
last influential technology is the cell phone.
Of course, like most people I use it for communicating through voice,
text and email. There are times when I
need to quickly research something on the Internet and my phone is a great
alternative to a book or my laptop. It also great for taking inspirational
pictures when I am far from my camera and see something beautiful.
A
difference in the way we use technology is that some of the students were
creating content. I could not help but
notice the technological savvy of a lot of the students. Even the youngest student on the list was
building websites. Also, I do not use
social networking sites. I don’t have
Myspace, Twitter, or a Facebook. I don’t
have a particular reason for this, but if pushed I would probably say that the permanence
of information that you put on the Internet scares me. I have always been a very private person and
I would just rather relay any messages that I have by word of mouth.
One
of the students said, “with technology you can change things when ever you
want”. She is not completely accurate
because things just cannot be removed.
Students need to also remember that information may be misleading or
simply false. Just as there is etiquette
in life, students need to remember they should behave in a positive way online
as well. As educators it is our
responsibility to make sure we highlight potential challenges to using
technology. We have to make sure
students fully understand what can happen if technology is not used sensibly.
