As I began reading this post I found myself getting very defensive because I felt that this guy was outrageous about not letting your kids associate with anything to do with technology. I think that Dr. McLeod's post is very attention catching. The way he wrote it you actually had to read between the lines to understand what he was really talking about. Dr. McLeod's main message is to teach kids technology because it will help them in the long run. The children who do not get to use technology and know how to work it will miss out on job opportunities in the future. For the simple fact that while technology is advancing, majority of the companies and jobs are advancing too.
Dr. McLeod is an associate professor at Iowa state. He is a professor in the Educational Administration Program and he also created one of the Did You Know videos! Dr. McLeod has won several awards for his technology leadership work, and he blogs regularly about it!
The iSchool Initiative
The iSchool Initiative is a more ecological way to learn. Instead of using pen and paper, textbooks, and copy machines, each student would have there own iPod platform that would have all the features of an iTouch. There are already plenty of apps that have what each classroom would need, but if just a few more were added to meet the requirements of each school system then this could work out.
I think that Travis has a great idea. Although I think this will happen within the next few years, we already have iPads in the classrooms so why wouldn't it work. I just wonder when will the students began using this? Will it be in kindergarten or when they hit the 5th grade? I know for a fact this works for college courses.
Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir
All I can say is wow. Was that really conducted online? None of these people have ever met before, yet they still sing in perfect harmony. This is just another example of the amazing things you can do with technology. Whitacre has really made it hard to fill his shoes. I am still in disbelief. I can't wait to see what he has to show us next!
Teaching in the 21st Century
"Teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge, we are the filter." This was the main sentence that stood out to me in this video. Kevin Roberts is very right about this. It used to be that teachers knew it all and they were the ones that taught us everything we know. There are so many different sources we could go to if we have a problem to solved. Now days teachers are there to guide students in the right direction when problem solving.
To teach, means to help students learn, not by themselves but with the help of a teacher. I think this video has a major impact on the way that teachers who are against technology view technology use in the classroom. This video will make them see that they are still useful and needed in the classroom. Technology is not replacing teachers, it is just helping the students to be prepared for the future. I think that every teacher should want that for their students, right?
McLeod: You got the sarcasm. Many students didn't and interpreted McLeod's post literally.
ReplyDeleteDr. McLeod is now at the University of kentucky. He used to be at Iowa state. What source did you use to find out who he is?
Raven,
ReplyDeleteGlad you understood the sarcasm!
You said, "Although I think this will happen within the next few years, we already have iPads in the classrooms so why wouldn't it work. I just wonder when will the students began using this? Will it be in kindergarten or when they hit the 5th grade? I know for a fact this works for college courses."
Try Googling the organization and see what they're up to today.
Allie