Week 3

Article 1 Review- Outside Interests

This article does remind me of various different past talks on the issue of technology and schools. When it comes to the topic of technology in the classroom, I do feel it is a good thing as long as it is used for the right reasons. Young adults today are immersed in technology everyday of their lives now with cellphones, ipods, laptops, internet, video games, and so on. This trend is going to grow more and more with each passing year as current technologies get cheaper and newer technologies are introduced.

I do find that interesting that students feel that their schools are similar to prisons and that the high tech world is basically anywhere but schools. From my observations of various different schools, I do agree that most schools would rather stick with basic technologies such as marker or chalk boards, movies shown on VHS tapes, pull down maps, and plain old textbooks. I know sometimes this is a cost factor on behalf of the schools to adopt newer technologies, but some technologies like podcasts to make study notes do not require much spending and drives interests and positive reactions from students.

Technology such as ipods, podcasts, and other technologies have a lot of potential, because if taps into students' various different learning styles and interests. Teachers and schools should use technology to their advantage to educate and build connections with their students. Technology can be a great research, learning, and studying tool if it is used appropriately. If school can become high tech and innovative environments that teach and inspire creativity with everyday technologies as learning tools, it is very possible students may gain better attitudes toward school in general.

Article 2 Review - Teachers Tap Video- Sharing in the Classroom

In reading this article, I have never heard of Teachertube, but I like the idea of it. TeacherTube can offer help for students needing help in studying such as math by showing math demonstrations on an online video. It can also assist teachers by having educational videos to show to a classroom and assist classroom lessons. In my opinion, TeacherTube is a very useful tool in the classroom environment.

I know as any new technology, it faces scrutiny. From what I read, I think that parents have nothing to fear about this TeacherTube since it is restricted from anyone from uploading video who is not involved with education and it's content is monitored for indecency. I wish something like this existed when I was in high school since I often struggled with subjects like math and needed a visual demonstration to help me. A visual demonstration of all the steps of a algebra problem on a internet video would not only had been very useful to me, but also basically a free service that would not of required me to spend a lot of time and money searching for VHS math videos, math help textbooks, or even hiring a tutor.

Article 3 Review - Low-Cost Handheld Targets Elementary Students

This article is about a new affordable portable computer known as Teachersmate that helps K-2 grade elementary student with subjects as math and reading. I agree with the article that the $50 Teachermate computer is a promising tool to be used in elementary schools. It is not only affordable, educational, and innovative, but also fun to use and grabs the interests of the children.

Learning should be made fun and, and in turn, this reinforces the child to be interested to learn. Reading and Math are subjects that if they are not learned and mastered at an early age, the child may suffer from math and reading problems for years to come. This is especially true with reading skills. The article says that the the Teachersmate does help enhance reading skills of the students. I feel more time is needed until a significant result is concluded on its effectiveness on students.

Article Review 4 - Online Speech Pits Studends vs. Teachers

This article has to do with students expressing free speech using online websites and blog about their schools, teachers, and other school officials. I found this article to be a little scary that kids can try to cause you harm by using the internet if they have a grudge against you or just wants to play a sick prank on you. Kids as young as 13 have the power to put up a fake website with your picture on it and make you out as a pedophile to defame you just because a student is angry at you about something.

The incident of the principal in the article who went through the experience of a student who put up a fake website to defame him with falsified information does sound like a justified case when he reacted by pushing criminal charges on the kid who created the fake website. Though the internet is open for everyone to say anything, it doesn't mean that someone can go out and cause harm to someone else using it and get away with it no matter what age they are. The internet may be a place to express free speech, but the internet also must abide to laws that protect individuals from such attacks.

I am for free speech and for students to say their minds, even if they have a negative attitude about things. Students should speak their minds if they don't agree with a school policy, future plans of the school, a cancellation or creation of a school program, a choice of a teacher, and so forth. Students are aware what free speech and the first amendment, but I feel that they are not educated on being responsible with free speech, and like any right and power, it has to be used wisely. Students need to be taught that they cannot use free speech to defame, ridicule, say stupid things for attention, insult other people's religious or cultural beliefs, discriminate, or falsify information.