HYPERtext?

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Camille Maydonik

As a grade one teacher, I found the following quote very interesting. From my observations of young learners, I completely agree. Text that children read is represented in so many different ways, such as Pokémon cards, and their interest must be hooked.

“Children’s literature today embodies cues for reading that extend beyond the letters and words on the page, demanding interpretation and interaction with the text beyond the de- coding of print. The computerization of type design and the photomechanical printing technologies available today make it easier for words to look like anything, appearing anywhere on the page in any color, size, or shape. Graphics add to the meaning or even are the meaning, causing readers to focus on symbols and signs and visual designs, cues often unrelated to the alphabetic writing system of language placed in print” (Hammerberg, 2001, p. 207).

"Sending a message beyond the words that not all is black and white" (Hammerberg, 2001, p.207).

Reference:

Hammerberg, D. (2001). Reading and writing “Hypertextually”: Children’s literature, technology, and early writing instruction. Language Arts, 78(3), 207-216. Retrieved from ERIC database. (EJ619540)

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Text and Independence

Posted on September 18, 2010 by tsher

“You can get help from teachers, but you are going to have to learn a lot by yourself, sitting alone in a room.” — Dr. Seuss

I love Dr. Seuss and I love Dr. Seuss quotes. 🙂

One of the greatest things we have gained from text is the independence and individualization of learning. The ability to read text opens doors that would previously have remained closed. Students go to mainstream schools and sit in classes reading what is expected of them, only to go home and read what excites and interests them. Sometimes they are the same things, but not often.

Technology and text going hand-in-hand has opened up even more doors for students as now they have access to even more text, as well as opportunities beyond the written word.

Schools are wonderful places to be but Dr. Seuss had it right, there is still a lot you’re going to figure out and learn on your own, in your room. 🙂

Tyler

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Ryosuke Suzuki – Introduction

Posted on September 18, 2010 by rsuzuki

The Reader

I chose this picture because it portrays the contrast between the past and future. All the books on the shelf behind the boy can be downloaded and read on a small device the boy is holding today. Printed books may not be obsolete for a while, but more and more people will read books on small devices. The person who submitted this picture said he drew this picture on a iPad using the Brushes application by the way.

I am very late to join you, but here is my intro.

Hello. My name is Ryosuke Suzuki. I am currently living in Shizuoka, Japan. I work as an English/Japanese interpreter/translator/tutor. I used to teach Japanese and World History in Washington state. This is my second year in the MET program. I am taking my 7th and 8th courses this term.

I am very excited to working with you all.

Ryosuke

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Layers of Nourishment

Posted on September 18, 2010 by vschrader
In the richness of Soap Lake

meaningful text nourishes akin to mineral-rich healing water

I took this photo on the shore of Soap Lake, in the state of Washington. It is a mineral-rich lake which locals claim has healing properties.

Good text has texture. With editing, it is polished, shiny as the rocks and the surface of the water, but holds sustenance as the mud seen here, saturated with minerals and moisture.


Good text draws us in as a cool, refreshing body of water, encompassing us wholly, entirely.

Good text nourishes us, as this particular lake can do, as does the sun which reflects upon it.

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Kurzweil and Technology

Posted on September 18, 2010 by lbonnor

“Human Centrality. A common view is that science has consistently been correcting
our overly inflated view of our own significance. Stephen Jay Gould
said, “The most important scientific revolutions all include, as their only common
feature, the dethronement of human arrogance from one pedestal after
another of previous convictions about our centrality in the cosmos.”5
But it turns out that we are central, after all. Our ability to create models—
virtual realities—in our brains, combined with our modest-looking thumbs,
has been sufficient to usher in another form of evolution: technology. That
development enabled the persistence of the accelerating pace that started with
biological evolution. It will continue until the entire universe is at our fingertips.”
Ray Kurzweil, (2005) The Singularity is Near, Viking, ISBN: 0670033847
Retrieved on Sept. 18 from http://singularity.com/bookexcerpts.html

Kurzweil is constantly pushing the boundaries of what we are able to do as teachers and how we understand ourselves as human beings. For more about Ray Kurweil see http://www.kurzweilai.net/

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Text is just something that you write down, isn’t it?

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Kirklan Lum

Text is the careful placement of letters or symbols in order to convey a thought, a message, an intent and more. It is the collection of words, sentences, and paragraphs that describe, prescribe, and conscribe. While text is simply the technology that allows us to communicate without moving our lips, it is also the myriad of ideas and understandings that we wish to pass on to others.

One of the first things that I ever remember reading was “The Magic Porridge Pot.” This is the story of the pot that magically fills with porridge with the command “cook little pot, cook,” and stops with the command “stop little pot, stop.” It’s a story about having too much of a good thing.

Text as a technology is most certainly a good thing, but is there a point at which too much written text obscures the message, thereby changing it into something that is no longer the original meaning? If so, then is there also a point in which text is not anything written at all?

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technology today

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Camille Maydonik

Have you tried creating a Google Search Story yet? It’s fun!

I created this Google Search Story starting with the question, “What is technology?” Also, I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the differences between technophile and technophobe because we are going through an adjustment period at my school where processes are changing. As a MET student, and a technophile, you can imagine that these changes are perhaps not conducive to how I learn and teach. I’ll spare the details here, however, the point that I would like to make about technology is that, to me, it is ever-changing and present in this day and age.

Driving to work on Friday, pondering this blog post, I was listening to Daft Punk’s “Technologic”. I was especially drawn to the lyrics, as I believe they represent what we can do with technology and with our hands! The possibilities are truly endless…. enjoy!

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Technology and Society

Posted on September 18, 2010 by adorat

Being a Biologist, it is natural for me to wonder about the evolution of society and humans. Technology in all it’s forms has transformed the modern world. Information is being sent globally at extremely fast rates. More people communicate with complete strangers in a variety of forms. I found the following video on YouTube that raises an interesting question and makes a great a suggestion at the end. I have seen a similar one before but this one focuses purely on technology and the human race.

YouTube Preview Image
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On technology in education

Posted on September 18, 2010 by vschrader

I’ve composed this under a sense of how technology is moving within the education system. Often, as has been discussed in various MET forums, there seems to be a push from ministries and administrations to incorporate current technology into teaching practice, sometimes without a lot of thought for best practice or the time that is necessary to change existing practice.

Postman (1992) cautions us that we can often be overly optimistic about new inventions and methods, quickly adopting them without due consideration. I believe modern technology can be used to enhance education exponentially – for both teachers and learners – but we need to be cautious that we do invest the time to ensure that is exactly how it happens.

Vicki

Reference

Postman, N. (1992). Technopoly: The surrender of culture to technology. New York: Vintage Books. Accessed online: https://www.vista.ubc.ca/webct/RelativeResourceManager/Template/Imported_Resources/etec540demo_det_course_20070517151759/pdfs/postman-thamus.pdf

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What isn’t technology?

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Kirklan Lum

What is technology? If you’d asked me that very question a month ago, I’d probably have said something along the lines of, “technology is an invention that makes you more efficient, or makes your life easier.” To me, technology was something tangible that you could hold in your hands. It was an object that you could use to complete a task. It could help you accomplish things that you wouldn’t be able do with your bare hands.

In trying to define the word “technology,” I’ve noticed something that is quite interesting to me.

Dictionary.com includes the following as a definition of “technology:”
-The branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life, society, and the environment, drawing upon such subjects as industrial arts, engineering, applied science, and pure science.

One of the definitions in the World English Dictionary for “technology” is:
-The total knowledge and skills available to any human society for industry, art, science, etc.

A definition in the Oxford English Dictionary for “technology” is:
-The branch of knowledge dealing with the mechanical arts and applied sciences; the study of this.

Each of these definitions includes knowledge, and the application of knowledge as technology. This makes me wonder not what is technology, but what isn’t technology?

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