Summary
I recently watched a webinar
concerning wireless devices in the classroom. The webinar lecture was broken
into two main parts. The first part was a discussion of the dropping price and
ever expanding use of technologies, including wireless technologies. The second
part was a discussion regarding technology driven curricula; two schools, each
driven to use technologies in a different way, were used as examples.
What I Learned
Part I
From the early part of the
webinar, I learned that only a few years ago, internet use on PCs exceeded the
use of application on wireless devices. But today, the opposite is true. I
wasn’t sure whether to be surprised by this.
Personally, I have a computer (a
laptop) in front of my face for the majority of each day and when I’m on the
computer, I’m on the internet. I own a cheap phone that is able to connect me
to the internet, but I don’t feel comfortable paying for the data package
required.
My fiancé, for another example,
uses his computers (a laptop and a desktop) for important tasks both important
and frivolous throughout the day. He uses his laptop in each of his classes in
law school and comes home to play games with the use of the internet on his
desktop. We both have significant projects that require the use of a keyboard
and large screen and his leisure time hobby of gaming requires a mouse,
sometimes the use of a keyboard, and in his opinion, a very large screen. While
he has a blackberry, he usually only uses it to send emails and get directions.
Technology in our professional
lives and at home plays a large and essential role and therefore, we require
large, sturdy technological equipment to do the job. It is very difficult for
me to imagine a life away from the computers, a life where my phone or an ipad
is my new best friend. However, all I have to do is look around me to see how
much people have come to rely on the convenience of devices such as
smartphones, ipads, and kindles.
Part II
In the latter half of the
webinar, I learned about two schools, one called Carpe Diem and another called
St. Mary’s. Both schools practice implementing a technology based curriculum,
Carpe Diem more so than St. Mary’s. At Carpe Diem, students work on computers
in cubicles for half of the school day, each day. The speaker of the webinar,
while biased, (he works with St. Mary’s to implement a strong technological
curriculum), dislikes the approach of Capre Deim and I’d have to agree. The
speaker explained that this use of technology supports drill and kill as
opposed to learning. He suggests that wireless devices along with teacher
instruction, papers, and pencils be equal components of a technology focused
curriculum. This would allow students to learn by doing, key word, “learn.”
At the end of the webinar
however, the speaker noted that regardless of how technology becomes integrated
into the curriculum, it will be integrated nonetheless and very soon, educators
must be prepared to use such technology as wireless devices within the
classroom for instruction.
Questions & Answers
Below, I have answered several questions inspired by the
webinar.
1.
How prepared are you for engaging in each type of
learning (Carpe Diem vs. St. Mary’s)?
I do not feel at all prepared
and very little of my training in curriculum and instruction was geared toward
technology use. I feel comfortable and confident in my ability to turn some
lessons into technological experiences but I am not fluent with the variety of
technological devices, especially wireless devices, that would allow me to implement
integrated (technology based) units using best practices. For instance, I have
used an ipad only a few times, I have never operated a smartphone, and I have
never created an online lesson module (something I’m assuming would be
necessary).
2.
What would you suggest teachers in your field adopt
based on current knowledge of mobile/wireless devices?
Unfortunately, I have absolutely
no idea how to answer this question. In fact, this question is part of the
reason why I signed up for an educational technology course. I do not use or am
familiar with more than a couple wireless devices and I would not know how to
implement them in the classroom. This is a topic that I intend to investigate.
3.
What would you recommend in terms of a school-wide
initiative to improve teaching and learning at this point if you were in a
position to do so?
I would know how to answer this
question if I were familiar enough with an array of technologies to provide an
answer to previous question, sadly I am not.
4.
A mixture of the two models is probably in everyone’s
future. How do you see executing your version of the blend in your field?
Although I do not have answer to
these questions, this particular question would be a great jumping off point, I
believe, that would allow me to investigate how other educators have envisioned
employing technologies in the curriculum and the possibilities for such tools
to improve practice in my field. I intend to use this research to inform and
develop my own opinions and ideas.
