I have been interested in how technology, and more specifically mobile technology, has been affecting and changing the way our students communicate and interact with each other for some time now. After this taking this course I realize that I have been having a hard time looking at these changes through the eyes of a student. When I see two teens sitting next to each other texting, I immediately try to imagine myself interacting with a friend like that when I was a teen and I cannot do it. When I hear about some of the personal posts kids put on Facebook I cringe and wonder where their appreciation for privacy went. I have a hard time appreciating the literacy skills needed to engage in a Youtube video. I struggle with these things not because I am a Luddite, but rather because I have been interested in how these technologies have changed the environment I was used to instead of viewing the new environment that these technologies have afforded.
Andre Jevne acknowledges the society changing powers of technology and wisely cautions us to carefully evaluate the technology before we drink its Kool-Aid. Caution does not have to mean slowly going forward, we can embrace technology while considering its impact on how we live. When it comes to education, Doug Connery builds on other classmate’s and prof’s observations on how slow educators typically are in accepting and incorporating new technology into their classrooms and teaching philosophies.
It is comforting and encouraging to hear my classmates talk about their trials of meaningfully incorporating Web 2.0 technologies into their teaching. Although this list is not exhaustive, people like Everton Walker and Steph Tobin do an awesome job of encouraging other teachers to challenge their thinking about technology and education simply by incorporating these new tools into classrooms.
It has been exciting to learn with all of you, and I wish everyone success in all your future endeavours.
