Blog Post #3

* Do you think technology actually helps students learn? Why or why not?

I believe that any medium used for expression and communication can be effective in assisting students' learning. It is up to the teacher to make use of ALL of the tools available to him/her in order to guide and motivate students to want to learn and grow in knowledge and understanding. Technology can be a valuable educational tool if used correctly and with creativity and foresight. In most cases, ineffective use of technology is due to lack of technological training, proper planning, and just plain rigid thinking.

* Do you think students are speaking "another language" than their teachers when it comes to technology? What effect is this having on classrooms/learning environments?

This depends entirely on the individual teacher's age, background, and personal technological experience. Generally, those of us who grew up in the 80's will have more of a challenge than those who grew up in later generations in matters of digital technology. However, I've personally known many people in their 30's and 40's who are well-versed with technology and they seem to have no problem understanding the "digital dialect" of our youth. For those of us who are not comfortable with technology, I can see how this might be a significant teaching disadvantage. One of the most practical ways to reach students at where they're at is to know their "language"--in this case, their digital dialect. We, as teachers, can do our part to educate ourselves about the latest technology so that we can be more effective in the classroom.

* Do you feel that your instructors are allowing you to express yourself in formats that you prefer?

Throughout my college career, I've felt that all of my professors (both in undergrad and post-bacc.) have allowed me to express myself in the format that I am most comfortable in...namely, Microsoft Word. I come from a generation that just saw the start of the technological explosion with regards to the World Wide Web and mobile cell phones. I've learned to appreciate the use of other technological formats for presentations, collaborative projects, and group media productions. Technology excites me and I am deeply interested in learning more so that I can be a better teacher for the students of today.

* When considering the "millennial generation" sometimes referred to as "digital natives" or those who have grown up with technology, do you think they are fundamentally different from "digital immigrants" or those who haven't grown up with technology? How?

As a self-proclaimed "digital immigrant", I remember when the World Wide Web and "email" was something that was on the cutting edge of technology. My high school teachers rarely used technology in the classrooms or as an educational tool for students. When I had to do research papers, I relied solely on hard copy reference materials. Going online to find information was totally foreign to me. I did not have a cell phone during high school or during my early years at college on the mainland. Compared to this, generally speaking, the youth of this generation are used to the easy, instantaneous gratification of online retrieval of a near limitless well of information on the internet. Social networking sites, online video games, text messaging, and other convenient forms of technological communication allow kids to interact with each other almost 24/7. In light of this disparity between the generations, I, myself, have concluded that there is a strong possiblity that students of this day and age might not appreciate the many steps it takes to learn something of importance (e.g., the main stages of the writing process) and, instead, be solely focused on taking "short-cuts" to reach the end result (e.g., reading SparkNotes instead of the actual book). However, I believe that with the right upbringing, mentors, and teachers to guide the way, our youth can learn to question the mindset of their generation and make choices that will better benefit their academic, and more importantly, their "life" skills. Generally, every child comes with a set of personal, moral, and ethical beliefs passed on by their parent(s) or guardian(s). Just because a student was born and raised in the digital age does not mean he/she will have any of the characteristics negatively associated with this generation. We, as teachers, should be mindful that not every "digital native" will have fundamental differences from those of us who are "digital immigrants". Every student is unique and special and it is up to us, as educators, to enable our students (in whatever grade or subject they're in) to reach their fullest potential in the class.