MB-Lesson 1A – Definition of Technology
Definition of Technology
| David Jonassen states, “…students learn from thinking in meaningful ways. Thinking is engaged by activities, which can be fostered by computers or teachers.” I believe that any activity in the classroom could be supported by technology with the guidance of teachers as long as it is meaningful, purposeful and authentic. There is no point in using technology in the classroom for the sake of using technology.I agree with Jonassen’s belief that “technology can support meaning making by students and that this happens when students learn with rather than from technology.” In my opinion, technology should be used as a tool to enhance learning and should not the focus of what is being taught. If a certain program or software needs to be introduced, a specific time should be set aside to teach how to use the technology prior to the unit or lesson at hand.There are many uses of technology, how society constructs meaning from it, the historical aspects of media, content, the relationship between people, places and media, and the way in which messages are being interpreted; it exposes us to content that influences what we know and how we interpret the world. Technology is an aspect that can be blurred into our cultural identity. Technology can also facilitate how we communicate and construct meaning about culture. Tapscott (2004) would insist that technology provides a voice, an identity, a representation and a specific culture for society.Technology as art and art as technology continues to shift and change. Technology affects the way we see or interpret art and allows us to create new types of art with technology. There is a new digital platform for communicating, sharing and displaying cultural expression, the Web. Messages are being delivered via the Web and can be manipulated to change our understanding. It allows us instant access to trends in culture, the evolution of culture as well as current changes in culture as they happen, at the click of a mouse. The Web acts as a medium for users to express something about themselves, which was not available before.Tapscott (2004) indicates that technology allows one to view content from a different ‘lens’ that provides very important feedback which can inspire self-reflection, critical thinking and analysis. |
p.8-9 Unfortunately, the classroom has been seen as an artificial learning space for educators to teach the prescribed learning outcomes written by the authorities, and teachers are very often have their hands tied to teach the curriculum in a specific way due to different constraints. In mathematics, school hasn’t been able to provide a level ground for all students to learn. Some students come to schools from families with insufficient “math culture” and a lack of logical mind. Eventually they graduate from high school with negative feelings about mathematics, and nurturing children with a distasteful of mathematics. Papert believes that the computer presence will break the self-perpetuating cycle by allowing teachers to improve the learning environment, and students will eventually escape from the physical confinement of a school setting.
Reference
Jonassen, D. (1999). Designing constructivist learning environments. In C. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional Design Theories and Models: Volume II. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Tapscott, D. (2004). The Net Generation and the School. Milken Family Foundation. Retrieved from: (http://www.mff.org/edtech/article.taf?_function=detail&Content_uid1=109).