Internet in the Classroom

This was a very interesting chapter to read because it presented technology is a different light than most of us would have originally viewed it. The first thing I found interesting was Hodas argued that school structure and teaching practice has remained substantially unchanged for seven hundred years. We do not see the standard lined desks and teacher sitting behind their desk anymore. This new generation of teachers and schools is encouraging a kinesthetic approach to learning. Schools are now requiring hands on learning and have to find strategic ways to use technology as an advantage to the learning styles of the students. 

One statement I supported strongly is the idea of distraction, is even more strongly related to the notion of the problem of the internet being a mode for communication rather than information. Outside of the classroom, this distraction is not a problem. Inside the classroom is completely different. In all levels of education, there are text messages and skype videos being used during lessons. There are also problems of test cheating and writing plagiarism are seen as supported by the internet as an open text space. It is tough for teachers to rely upon technology to present information if the communication problem exists. Another problem I agree with through the laptops is they were responsible for the classroom losing its “unity,” “personality,” and “spark”. One of the best parts of being a teacher is getting to know the children and seeing their reaction to certain lessons and activities. You can lose the student voice when placed behind a computer screen. 

Web Resources-timeforkids

timeforkids.com

I had never heard of this website before using it today. One thing I really enjoyed about this site is the kid reporters. In this section, kids are able to write their own stories to be posted on the website. The kids get to show exciting places such as the museum, aquarium, and important people. An aspect of this I find very exciting is that the kid reporters are able to write stories about other kids who are doing big things with their life. There is an interview and video with a kid who is on Broadway and he explains how hard the work is, but how much he loves it. Since I graduated from UT with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, I love this kid reporter section on this website because it exposes kids to the exciting world of news, journalism, and current events. This is one area of our generation that is lacking and that is staying up to stay with important information and current events. This could easily be used in the classroom by showing students these videos and having a group of students find a topic they are interested in and write a story and make a video. All age levels can use this site and it is very interactive for students, teachers, and parents.

 Another area I found beneficial for students from this site is the amount of newsworthy information that was provided. There were articles from student's backyards, to countries around the world. An exposure to other cultures, ideas, and philosophies helps students to broaden their thinking. It can be used for a compare and contrast. There are subheadings for science, national, health, and around the world. For students to have this opportunity to explore other parts of the world and to see it done by students just like them could easily be incorporated into the curriculum. For teachers and parents, it all provides helpful tools such as quizzes and worksheets. The site is very commercial and easy to access. It does not require a sign up, but if you do there are extra benefits. Adult supervision is not required and it is very kid friendly. The only area I did not like about the site was that it needed more color and could have covered more topic areas. Science and social studies are important, but include math as well.

New Literacies?

While reading the chapter on new literacies, the words that kept popping into my head was "out with the old and in with the new" and just how different people are from one another. In terms of the primary and secondary discourses, each person has a different discourse from another person. We are all unique and learn in different ways. As educators, that is an area that we need to work on. All students do not learn in the same way and each student brings their own story to the classroom. I like that we are all different, it provides a unique challenge for the teacher. Technology is now causing us to be even more flexible and open to change in the classroom. The change from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 in a matter of years is amazing. Yet, why are we surprised about technological changes anymore. This is what we have become accustomed with in our lifetime. I enjoyed the quote, "The significance of the new technical stuff has mainly to do with how it enables people to build and participate in literacy practices that involve different kinds of values, sensibilities, norms and procedures and so on from those that characterize conventional literacies." We must be receptive to these new ideas and not get stuck in a pattern or routine. I like that technical “stuff” is providing new literacy practices that can be implemented in an everyday classroom and breaks the chains of the past linear set of instruction. 

The Millenials? Smart or Dumb?

The debate between Mark Bauerlien and Neil Howe as to whether the millennials have gotten smarter or dumber creates an interesting topic to discuss. There always has been a strong comparison as to where American students rank on international education scales? Both speakers present strong sides of the argument that provide supporting examples of statistics and information for each side. As I watched the video, I felt myself leaning more towards the side of Neil Howe and his belief that this generation is the smartest generation yet.


Bauerlien’s argued that middle and high schoolers lacked in areas of conceptual knowledge and taste. A major point of his argument was that the millennials have enormous advantages, opportunities, and access to tools, but their knowledge and skills show a decline. Bauerlien showed that reading rates have declined because reading is a less meaningful endeavor. He linked this to technology and social networking as the main distraction has caused the students to decline. I argue this point because technology has become a huge resource for classrooms. A large portion of classrooms are now equipped with technology to assist the teacher and students to a higher standard of learning. With the digital age that the students are facing, providing classrooms with this technological support gives teachers and students a connection between their home life full of technology and preparation for the real world.


In my agreement with Howe, his statistics and data is what provided evidence for his argument and convinced me that American students are truly getting smarter. My favorite statement was when he drew the comparison between students of the 1950’s and the students today. We can compare our students to the students of the 1950’s, but we can’t compare the students of the 1950’s to the students of today. He was arguing that you can test to the student’s today disadvantages by using their standards; it is not a fair comparison. He referenced the National Science Fair and National Spelling Bee and two measures of success. Howe stated the entire population I.Q. is higher than it has ever been. Howe said that the information age is causing challenges, but this information age is also providing correlations to previous knowledge and ideas that could not have been referenced. His argument against Bauerlien’s was spot on. His argument the advantages that technology can have pointed to areas that technology can be beneficial such as jobs and information.