To start out, Jared had a thoughtful idea on (http://learn2serve.blogspot.com/2004/08/changing-world.html) about "Changing the World."
"The combination of ideas and dialogue are the catalysts for meaningful positive change. Diversity of thought properly represented increases the worth of ideas, propositions, arguments, etc. Let the dialogue begin."
I commented on his blog and said:
"Whether you're quoting someone or made it up yourself, that's a great way to explain why blogs can be powerful. It allows a much greater diversity of thought. Anyone can work a blog--they're easy! So now anyone can put their thoughts out there to be read. Who knows who's going to ready YOUR blog this week? Could be anyone. That's why I like blogging. I get to hear many different ideas from outside my little BYU world."Another student, Roxana, wrote about Technology-assisted Language Learning:
"I guess I'll just write how I think that technology can help in teaching a foriegn language. I figure that it can also mean using videos and things like that which can be very helpful because the students can see what they've been hearing. Since everyone learns different ways that would be very helpful for visual learners."I think Roxana has hit on a key for why technology can help her in her subject—Visualization. In what ways could technology help YOU in YOUR teaching emphasis? Visualization is pretty general and applies to many different subjects, but maybe other learning styles are more emphasized in your discipline. If so, how can technology aid you in these learning styles?
A third student, "Luma," was semi excited, semi nervous about class:
"Well, for some of us, like me, this is my first and only shot at learning classroom technology. I'm more into the paper, the book, the flutter the pages and smell the print kind of English teacher. So the name Luma Solem, taken affectionately from Rowling's Harry Potter, describes the sunlight... a light I hope will come to my mind as I try to learn about these crazy things called computers!"
How many of you feel this way (silent show of hands! :-). I regret that we only have 1 credit to discuss these ideas — that's not a lot of "sunlight" as Luma says. But I hope you will leave this class with some good ideas about why we should consider using technology and some general ideas for how to do it. Then you can go out and apply the principles of this class to your own situations!
A fourth student, Rosie, responded to my post about the future of super high speed Internet.
"If simulations like that could be available on the internet and transfer fast enough to be brought into lecture at a spur of the moment (if the students had a particular question that the teacher did not anticipate) learning and understanding could certainly be better served in the moment, rather than waiting till next class period to explain now questions."I think simulations in particular have an exciting future in education. I believe students learn best by practicing authentic problems -- real life problems. Since students can't always be blowing things up in the chemistry lab while doing their homework, having a chemistry simulation like Virtual Chemlab allows them to practice "real" chemistry while at home. Wouldn't that be more effective than worksheets? What do you think class?
A final note, surprisingly, the discussion this week that had the most participation was my post on the BYU game. I don't know if this means my other posts on education were that bad or if my post on the game was that good. Or maybe we just love our Cougars! Go Cougs!
