Directions: Identify a new societal issue that is related to education and technology. Post a brief description of the issue and include a link that is related to the issue. The link may be an media article, research report, or website that is related to the issue.
Intentionally Using the Internet for Social Justice
The Detroit Future Youth (DFY) program is an umbrella organization for twelve grassroots youth organizations in Detroit that are dedicated to social justice. In particular, their goal is to help connect their partner organizations with using technology to further their goal of social justice. DFY's premise is that mere internet access is not enough to help close the "digital divide"; in fact, they argue that without some direction, increased media access to already at-risk youth can be more detrimental than no access at all. For example, if youth are not instructed on how to use the internet in positive ways, their access may ultimately only expose them to more violence and damaging content. DFY helps their partner organizations use technology in their programs in a beneficial way; they help these organizations use technology to build community and extend their reach, especially through social networking. In turn, these organizations then directly engage the youth they serve in technology in positive ways. Ultimately, DFY empowers youth to spread messages and acts toward social justice. (Kara Polansky)
How to make a smart board with a wii remote Johnny Lee is a tech researcher who presented one of his latest innovations on the website "Ted Talks". Lee has invented a way for school teachers around the world to create a $3,000 smart board for only $50.00 (provided that each teacher has a computer and projector available to them). Lee demonstrates that by placing a Wii remote on top of the projector, so that the infrared light faces the white board, a person can use an infrared pen on the white board to create the appearance of smart board. The infrared pen acts like an actual smart board pen allowing the user to write on the screen and to drag images around the screen. I am not a very tech savvy person; therefore I cannot explain the details of how this works. I do know that is has to do with the computer picking up the infrared light projected by both the remote and pen. Lee explains that the user would be able to get 80% of the usage that a normal smart board could provide for about 1% of the cost. This basic technology could help transform underfunded schools across America, creating more equitable environments for all students. Smart boards are an excellent interactive resource that can be used by both students and teachers. By dramatically lowering the cost of this resource, Johnny Lee has made it possible for all schools to provide their students with valuable resources. (Janet Moore)
Digital Divide Deepak Subramony discusses educational technology and the digital divide in the 21st century. He addresses three specific issues related to educational technology; equitable access to and proficiency in information and communication technologies (ICT) integration in teaching, learning workflow and lifestyles, transformative impact of ICT on the lives of communities of cultural minority learners, and the needs and aspirations of a diversifying target learner/ICT-user population. Those lacking ICT access in the 21st century are at risk of lacking knowledge and skill and consequently trapped in a vicious downward spiral of disempowerment and alienation. (Edward Tompson)
The Global Search for Education: Education Technology This article from the Huffington Post sheds light on the use of technology in classrooms, specifically through the use of Ipads in the classroom. In an attempt to analyze the resourcefulness of the Ipad, author C.M. Rubin interviewed education specialist Tony Wagner. At the beginning of the article, Rubin challenges the role of Ipads in the classroom as well as the ability of teachers to effectively involve them in the learning process. Based on research from his new book: Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, Wagner defends the role of Ipads, citing the convenience that the tablet brings to the classroom. Wagner is a strong proponent for the use of technology in the classroom. He considers knowledge to be a commodity in our current tech-centered society. He stresses the importance of developing “21st century skills” in students to develop “life-long learning.” Wagner claims that using Ipads (along with other technology tools) in classroom is vital to developing students to be confident in an ever growing technology focused society. (Adam McDonald)
Not all ebooks are good textbooks. And online textbooks? All they want is district money.
This horrible situation happened in Huntington, Virginia where the district bought online math textbooks for grades K-12. Not only did this create problems for families with slow or no internet connection, it also made access to the content on other devices (i.e. phones and kindles) and sharing of PDFs impossible. It should be the goal of schools to move forward to move forward with technology to give student the opportunity to learn content and give them access to the modern tools. This, however, is a reminder that sometimes a 12 old math textbook is more modern than an online textbook whose main concern is limiting its access to be shared, printed, and copied.(Michael Klaport)
This is a TedTalk done by Sugata Mitra about allowing children to utilize technology in order to teach themselves. He started by placing a small computer screen in the center of a children's area in India. At first, the students had no idea how to use it or what it was for. In about two days, several students became extremely sufficient with the computer and even taught their peers how to use it. This is all done with no adult help or supervision. He replicates this idea in several more countries with somewhat different scenarios. He finishes his talk with an example from Italy where the students did not speak English and he did not speak Italian. He wrote questions on the board in English and allowed the students to work in groups with computers in order to discover the answers. His main point is that students need to work together in order to learn new material rather than have a teacher lecture them on the material. I find this idea interesting especially in questioning what our roles as teachers need to be considering the advances in technology and with our students' cognitive development. (Jessica Goakey)
The article, Technology in Education, from Education Week summarizes the rapidly changing trends in educational technology. Both opportunities and challenges of the role of technology in schools are presented, focusing mainly on e-learning, research databases, mobile computing, and social networking. There are also a lot of programs and ideas presented that could be good ideas for future tech tools. I highly suggest scanning through this article because it provides studies and statistics to justify both sides of this challenging and constantly changing technological issue in education. (Kirsten Phillips)
Tech Solutions for Special Kids
There is much news and reporting in education circles today about technology integration and the use of technology to teach general education lessons in new ways. Much less is heard about technology to assist special needs students. An interesting article in Education World discusses the use of technology to help kids with special needs participate fully in classroom lessons and activities. The article provides many resources and ideas that support learning of special needs students. (Kia Himstead)
Promoting Responsible and Ethical Digital Citizens
How do we as educators motivate students to be responsible and ethical life long learners in the digital age? An article in Education World explores some different ways we can prepare students to be "tech smart" when using technology. Broad categories include: care of equipment, safe sites, copyright law and creative commons, preventing cyber bullying, promoting a positive self image with social networking sites, appropriate online etiquette, giving credit to original sources, and the importance of critically thinking and reflecting about purpose, message and intent of any and all digital creation. (Kia Himstead)
Common Core Tech Demands Raise Budget Worries
Standardized tests are expected to be entirely administered electronically come the 2014-2015 school year. While this might seem efficient to some, it raises huge concerns specifically related to funding. For schools that are struggling to even get a decent computer lab set up, this task seems daunting. We know that these schools are already more at-risk for getting lower test scores (because of all of the institutionalized prejudice involved in standardized tests) but this makes the issue even more complicated. Furthermore, testing on computers might create some extra challenges for students who are not used to reading on a screen (the article cites eye fatigue as a potential problem), and for students who have trouble typing. (Fatima Arain)
8 Ways Technology is Improving Education
Sarah Kessler is responding to the new movement in American schools that is asking, "should we incorporate technology in our schools," while at the same time schools in other countries are asking, "how should we incorporate technology?" Kessler cites Don Knezek's comparison of education without technology to the medical profession without technology. They can both happen without the use of advanced technology, but the evidence in clear in the medical profession that we are able to be way more efficient and detailed with technology. The remaining part of the article addresses 8 examples of how technology can be used in classrooms to further education in a way that wasn't possible without it. (Cassandra Rodriguez)
The Tor Project
Although this link does not make the direct connection to education, I think it is incredibly relevant to teachers training children to use the internet. Tor Project offers free software that helps maintain privacy and protects against surveillance. Children and adults use social media, free online resources such as google, and offer up information online on a daily basis without considering the implications. Teaching students about the importance of protecting their privacy while using the internet is crucial for their future and should be the foundation for introducing online lessons into the classroom. (Emma Klein)
Connecting the world
Hector Ruiz, delves into the difficulty but also the need for education to be spread world-wide. His company, AMD, is working on a 50x15 initiative. This project intends to connect 50% of the world by 2015. He goes on to explain that by providing access to the massive amount of knowledge available online, can allow developing nations to develop innovative entrepreneurial projects of their own. They will then be empowered to develop solutions to many of their own problems as well as inventions that they can then hopefully trade and bring money into their country. (Josh Keiner)
Connexions, a free, open-source, global clearinghouse of course materials.
Richard Baraniuk talks about saving schools money by getting ride of textbooks. He has designed a program which allows teachers to create, rip, mix, and burn coursework into a lesson plan; much the same way people can share music at a discounted price. This technology will make sharing knowledge much easier and cheaper for schools. This open sharing of information can change the teaching landscape for teachers and students. (Brandon Rymer)
Technology high school prepares students for workforce.
Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) is a school in Brooklyn, NY which basically combines high school and community college. Students graduate in six years instead of four and when they finish they are the proud recipients of not only a high school diploma but also an associates degree. IBM has consulted on the project with the idea that the students graduating from P-Tech will have a link into the technology industry due to their specialized education. New York plans on opening up more schools such as P-Tech, with a focus on Technological vocation. At P-Tech, the students aren't just stuck to computers all day, there is also a huge mentorship component, as classes are small and each student is paired with an IBM mentor. Because of this interactive apprenticeship approach, I see a huge value to this kind of specialized education. (Katherine Steele)
Coursera: What We're Learning from Online Education
In this TED Talk, Daphne Koller, professor at Stanford University and co-founder of Coursera,discusses how free online education is changing education as we know it. By giving people who don't have access to top-quality education the ability to take free online courses from top-ranked universities, Coursera is helping establish education as a fundamental human right, creating opportunities for lifelong learning, and enabling a wave of innovation. As she says, "Amazing talent can be found anywhere. Maybe the next Albert Einstein or the next Steve Jobs is living somewhere in a remote village in Africa, and if we could offer that person an education, they would be able to come up with the next big idea and make the world a better place for all of us." (Tina Pulliam)
Toys From Trash
In this article, David Silverberg interviews Indian inventor Arvind Gupta about his website Toys from Trash. He has been building science toys and experiments from common household objects and posting videos in English, Hindi, and Marathi, to encourage all students to experience the joys of science. By making toys from inexpensive materials, he is making science accessible to everyone and providing that flashy technology is not always need to fill a student with wonder. In our age of consumerism, Gupta's vision is very refreshing. (Dianne Betz)
Going Viral: The Implications of Global Access
Today, an image taken in Mexico can circulate around the globe in minutes. This article highlights the photo of a young Mexican child, with blonde hair. A passing tourist saw this young girl begging and immediately assumed that she had been kidnapped and forced to beg. He sent the message out in an effort to find her ‘real’ family and alert the authorities. However, this child is a citizen of Mexico. She was not kidnapped and this tourist simply jumped to the wrong conclusions because she was blonde. However, numerous children of color were also begging near this girl and the tourist didn’t stop to take their picture and alert the authorities. I would argue that this tourist was trying to act in the best interests of the child, but the Internet and his global connections not only allowed this to spiral out of control but clearly demonstrated that we are not living in a color blind society. I believe this important for education because we need to teach our kids to dissect the viral information they receive each day in order to enhance critical thinking skills and encourage discussions around living in a prejudiced world and we can work to change that. (This is one of many articles surrounding the photo). (Jessica Maxine Gregory Gordon)
Do Cell Phones Belong in the Classroom?
This article from the May 2012 Atlantic brings up an interesting point: cell phones are inescapable in most American high schools, but are they always bad? Besides claiming the need of cell phones for emergency situations, cell phones could be used for good, the author Robert Earl suggests. Students can set alarms and reminders for assignments, they can jot down notes with an app, and they can be an interactive part of a lesson, say with class polling. But what Earl also proposes is that cell phones can do more harm than good. They can be incredibly distracting for students, who are busy text messaging their friends or watching videos on YouTube. They can also distract a teacher trying to conduct a lesson. The bottom line: cell phones take away from learning and help to decrease our students' already short attention spans. (Melissa Gaffney)
Rural Students Lost in Connectivity Gap
This article in the U.S. News education section addresses the challenges faced by kids in rural areas when it comes to technology. The article mentioned that only 50% of people in rural communities are connected to the internet. In addition, students in rural areas are spending hours on buses with little or no cell phone service. While schools are trying to provide students with as much access to technology as they can, the fact remains that these students are disadvantaged at home. Teachers in these areas cannot expect students to come to school with basic technological knowledge. In addition, teachers cannot assign homework that uses any technology. This means that all the learning for these students has to be done at school. (Justine Cramer)
A Teacher's Guide to Blended Learning
This website describes combinations of online learning and face-to-face learning that are in place in many high schools and middle schools. Examples of blended learning include more traditional-sounding schools, like High Tech School, where students rotate between a traditional teacher and an online instructional tool on campus. At the other extreme, Albuquerque Public Schools eCADEMY has one face-to-face class meeting at the beginning of each course, then the students are at home for the rest of the course with their computers and access to office hours as needed. The schools described on the website boast high retention rates and/or test scores at or above state average. I'd like to know whether these schools attract more self-motivated students, which would explain the good results. And what about that social/emotional learning? (Linda Wilson)
Multiple New Issues Schools Face Adopting Technology In this article, Peter Martorella outlines what he believes are the top issues regarding education and technology today. He presents five major categories of issues some of which are ethical concerns in technology, internet usage, and First Amendment and privacy rights. Some of the ethical concerns in schools include theft of electronic devices such as laptops, theft of software, and unclear standards for plagiarism. Some of the issues regarding the internet involve sorting through which search engines are viable. Yet another issue Martorella puts forward is the First Amendment versus privacy rights and how freedom of speech comes up against the right to protect our students from malicious and indecent language on the internet. In our rapidly changing age of technology, this essay is very relevant. Even though it addresses several issues with technology, it outlines what we are dealing with today that we were not dealing with in the past. (Cara Kasperson)
Should We Care About Media Literacy? An Interview With Frank Baker Media literacy is an important societal topic that I believe does not get a lot of national attention. Some may argue that it is a skill that is as much of a necessity as learning how to read and write. That being said, I would guess that many people do not recognize it as an essential learned skill set that should be part of the K -12 education system. In this article, Peter DeWitt provides a short Q & A from his interview with Frank Baker, the author of Media Literacy: 21st Century Literacy Skills. During the interview Baker provides his thoughts on what media literacy is, why media illiteracy is so dangerous, and how teachers can get students to care about being media literate. This article does a great job of creating awareness about the argument for media literacy and of creating more contemplation by educators as technology continues to be integrated into classrooms. (Brian Cates)
How Young Is TOO Young for Smart Phones and Tablets?
More and more often these days you see parents handing their young child—toddlers even—smart phones to keep them from fussing and causing a disruption in public. The question is: “Is this a healthy choice for my child’s learning?” It is often said that children under the age of five learn best with social interaction and observing the world around them; giving them this style of distraction could be detrimental to their education. As a societal Issue, I am wondering how this will impact education over the years to come. Will children be entering schools with a higher understanding of math, reading, and science? Or will they just have stunted social skills, causing additional burdens on elementary teachers that will need to work harder to build even basic social skills? Where will you stand when the time comes? (Jason O’Leary)
Future U: Classroom Tech Doesn't Mean Handing Out Tablets
It's an undeniable fact that technology is becoming an important part of the classroom. This article addresses the issue that teachers face when it comes to incorporating technology in their classrooms; they are often competing for the attention of their students with laptops, cell phones, etc. The important point that this article brings up is that teachers need to instruct their students how to incorporate technology into their students lives in a proper way. Students need to understand the proper way to interact with technology. This article also brings up the idea that the classroom of the future will be physically different than the ones we know today. It's possible that it turns into something more organic with students using technology to facilitate positive collaborative learning. A very interesting read! (Allyson LaRosa)
Does technology help or hurt empathy?
These two articles discuss ways that technology is hypothesized to help and hurt empathy levels. On the pro side, volunteering is increasingly a common practice. This may stem from a feeling of global connection fostered by the internet. On the con side, certain studies have shown that the feeling of empathy has decreased in recent years, possibly because of increasing isolation, but also potentially because people are reading fewer novels. In a world of fast paced media, less emphasis is placed on reading novels which require you to step into someone else's shoes and actually practice empathy. What do you think? How can we use this information to guide technology use and empathy building in our classrooms? (Alexis Nast)
The Sky's the Limit: Kids' Top Tools for the Classroom
This article discusses different technology tools (lab tops, Iphones, Blue Tooth, Web cams etc..) that kids desire to use more in the classroom. Many different tech tools are used in Seattle classrooms, however most classrooms throughout the country are not provided with enough funding to access any of these technological advances. Many kids are provided with cellphones by the age of 10 nowadays; similarly, many families have tablets that they use to teach their children how to read or play games. If kids have access to these in the classroom, they believe that they will be more stimulated to learn in the classroom. (Erin O'Rorke)
Classroom Cheating in the Digital Age
Technology has been a hot topic amongst educators today. Both sides of the argument provide valid points regarding its productivity in the classroom. The "pro" side argues that students of today are very tech savvy; students will stay engaged and learn more during lessons when using technology in the classroom. The “con” side argues that using too much technology in the classroom will cheat students of skills they learn from non-technological tools such as looking a definition up in the dictionary, not on google.com. This article falls under the “con” side and argues that technology is increasing the amount of cheating among students. Students have endless opportunities for deceit, including posting homework answers on blogs, taking pictures of tests and passing them to other students, and going to websites that will answer math problems for them. This article provides a valid argument against technology mixing with education. (Kelly Guy)
The Future of Textbooks: eBooks in the Classroom The digitization of both books and textbooks has been a much talked about issue for the past several years. From journalists to sociologists/anthropologists, educators, students, parents, and beyond, individuals and groups from a variety of disciplines are weighing in on the advantages and disadvantages of electronic text. This article discusses both the pros and cons of digital textbooks, in particular, and explores whether it is an efficient fiscal or educational move to switch to digital textbooks in the classroom. Although textbook publishers fear their demise with the possibility of some degree of universal adoption of e-textbooks, this transition won’t occur for some time even if it does occur. Woudstra posits the potentially detrimental health or learning issues that could result from significant time spent reading from an e-book. With a technology that is still in many ways new and with effects that have yet to potentially surface, how can we truly know whether it is a smart move to digitize the classroom? With students spending so much time in from of screens and interacting with technology (often to the detriment of face-to-face interactions), is the digitization of educational texts only going to further exacerbate the negative effects of such a technology-centric and instant gratification-seeking culture that their lives are already steeped in? Do the fiscal costs outweigh the potential social costs? Is it too soon for educators to jump on the digital bandwagon? (Stephannie Franks)
CBC Television on WiFi Health Dangers In Schools This video contains episodes of CBC news and CBC 16:9 (two Canadian channels) that focus on the possible health dangers of WiFi in school. According to specialists in the video, a small percentage of the population is hypersensitive to radiation like that emitted from WiFi and they experience adverse health effects such as headaches and heart palpitations when exposed to it. Official radiation exposure standards were not based on any studies that explored possible health effects on children, whose bodies are smaller, more penetrable, and more vulnerable than adults bodies. As a result there may be other adverse effects on health that prolonged WiFi exposure could produce in children that at present we are not aware of. Some parents featured in these videos are advocating for schools to use cables rather than WiFi as a precautionary measure until more is known about WiFi's health effects. (Lauren Kayda)
In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores
This article discusses an issue concerning the use of technology in the classroom: does technology really improve student learning? The author focuses on the Kyrene School District in Arizona, which has invested roughly $33 million dollars for new technologies under an approved ballot initiative. The students in this district are learning in completely new ways. In a seventh-grade English class, students are creating blogs and Facebook pages from the standpoint of Shakespeare’s characters. Although students in the Kyrene School District are learning in fun and engaging ways, their test scores have stagnated. Many education experts are noticing how schools are spending billions on technology even though and there is little proof that technology-centric classrooms are actually improving basic learning. (Theresa Han)
The Pros & Cons of Facebook
Although this article is brief and probably doesn't really tell most of us anything we didn't already know, I appreciate that it shows both the pros and cons together. This article explains that to many people Facebook isn't simply a website, but the entire internet itself. Students are spending ungodly amount of time on Facebook and teachers are trying to understand how to use it to their advantages. Using it for things like class discussion boards can be successful considering students are constantly on Facebook anyways and they are more likely to actually participate more in discussions with other students. However, there are still downsides including poor archiving abilities and excessive advertisements. This article is attempting to look at Facebook in the classroom from a more practical level and how it can be used and when it should be avoided. Whether we like it or not, Facebook isn't going to go away any time soon so we need to know how we can and can't use it in the classroom. (Anna Hawryluk)
Can technology be our friend?
There is no denying the enormous benefits of using technology in the classroom. We see technology being used more and more everyday. Kids love to use computers and computer software. It can aid special needs students, enhance your learning targets, increase relatability of subject matter and provide the set or hook you need to get your class focused and interested. However, I think careful thought around its use and relevance should be exercised. What about online classes with limited to no interaction with teachers at all? As more and more virtual classroom situations become the norm, the quality and accessibity of education for all students may decline even further. Here is an interesting article that looks at some of the benefits and problems associated with virtual classrooms. Overall I think its important for any person pursuing a career in education that technology can only take us so far with students. In addition we can’t ignore the fact that the world we are living in today has more and more technology and is being used at a rapid pace. (Molly Conner)
Why "Googling it" Is Not Enough
This article explores how teaching students to "Google it" may be hindering students' ability to actually do thoughtful and original research. While most teachers admit that the internet has amazing opportunities for research, especially when it comes to the depth and breadth of information, it also has a lot of information that is unhelpful and flat-out lies. Part of our obligation to students who are used to "Googling it" is to teach them how to do true academic research online, utilizing journals and real research websites and being critical consumers of the internet. Many of our students have trouble discerning fact from fiction on the internet which can lead to real repercussions for budding researchers. The basis from this article is taken from study results just released by The Pew Research Center on "How Teens Do Research in the Digital Age."(Robin Nider)
Technology Linked to Immaturity
This article explores the issue as an economic and a social issue. It outlines how the economic crisis has led students to be less motivated in school work. Since students are more concerned with survival and basic needs, they are not motivated to learn. The article also mentions how changes in society have caused students to value education less. However, with the proper use of technology students have been able to make advancements, specifically McMorran states "our middle-ability kids are performing at honors level of the past". While students have made academic progress compared with previous generations, the students of today are less able to problem solve and have lower attention spans than ever before. Students lack social connections with their peers since they choose to text instead of having face-to-face interactions. This article addresses the need for education to transform to fulfill the needs of technologically advanced students of today. Students have become passive in their learning since the classroom is not as enticing as the technology they use outside of the classroom. (Kathryn Batts)
Too Much Computer Exposure May Hinder Learning:
This article from USA Today, describes a study performed by researchers at the University of Munich. They data gathered from 175,000 students representing 31 different countries. The results of this extremely broad based study stated that students, with access to more than one computer in the home, actually suffered more than thrived in regards to math and reading scores. This article brings forth the main issue we have discussed in our Technology Strand: What is the appropriate use of technology for our students? I believe that computers and other forms of technology are incredible resources; however, they must be controlled and used in moderation. The results of this study support just that. (Jeana Greco)
Implicit Association Test (IAT)
With the progression of psychology and awareness towards prejudice, Harvard developed a tool that has the ability to assess a person's internal thoughts and beliefs towards another group of people. The test itself is based on response latency (how long it takes someone to respond to a question/parameter) and allows the test taker to receive a quantifiable result of their personal biases. As a technological tool, the IAT allows teachers, students, or anyone from the general public to directly confront the biases they may have towards minority groups. The technology of response latency is nothing new to psych research; however, using response latency in this fashion has allowed us delve further into the complex interaction technology and media has had on our preconceptions of marginalized individuals. (Rick Mora)
Computer Aided Design Programs
Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs are a great class to implement in schools to access more students and to have a vocational based class that could be essential for some students. CAD classes are a great way to teach to the STEM classes (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) since this is an area our entire country is failing at. CAD classes allow students to integrate spacial intelligence with mathematical skills and real world understanding. I think these are valuable skills for all students to have access to and these kind of classes can be essential to hook some students into skill. Another reason CAD classes are valuable is due to their potential for post high school job. CAD engineers can make a great living and walking away from high school with that skill in your pocket is a great opportunity. Also, if a student is interested in engineering or math in college CAD classes are essential to help bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical use. I know CAD classes have been around for a while but I hope that they continue to be offered in schools especially with the increasing demand for computer literate individuals in the work force. (Blake Stevens)
Identify a new societal issue that is related to education and technology. Post a brief description of the issue and include a link that is related to the issue. The link may be an media article, research report, or website that is related to the issue.
Intentionally Using the Internet for Social Justice
The Detroit Future Youth (DFY) program is an umbrella organization for twelve grassroots youth organizations in Detroit that are dedicated to social justice. In particular, their goal is to help connect their partner organizations with using technology to further their goal of social justice. DFY's premise is that mere internet access is not enough to help close the "digital divide"; in fact, they argue that without some direction, increased media access to already at-risk youth can be more detrimental than no access at all. For example, if youth are not instructed on how to use the internet in positive ways, their access may ultimately only expose them to more violence and damaging content. DFY helps their partner organizations use technology in their programs in a beneficial way; they help these organizations use technology to build community and extend their reach, especially through social networking. In turn, these organizations then directly engage the youth they serve in technology in positive ways. Ultimately, DFY empowers youth to spread messages and acts toward social justice. (Kara Polansky)
How to make a smart board with a wii remote
Johnny Lee is a tech researcher who presented one of his latest innovations on the website "Ted Talks". Lee has invented a way for school teachers around the world to create a $3,000 smart board for only $50.00 (provided that each teacher has a computer and projector available to them). Lee demonstrates that by placing a Wii remote on top of the projector, so that the infrared light faces the white board, a person can use an infrared pen on the white board to create the appearance of smart board. The infrared pen acts like an actual smart board pen allowing the user to write on the screen and to drag images around the screen. I am not a very tech savvy person; therefore I cannot explain the details of how this works. I do know that is has to do with the computer picking up the infrared light projected by both the remote and pen. Lee explains that the user would be able to get 80% of the usage that a normal smart board could provide for about 1% of the cost. This basic technology could help transform underfunded schools across America, creating more equitable environments for all students. Smart boards are an excellent interactive resource that can be used by both students and teachers. By dramatically lowering the cost of this resource, Johnny Lee has made it possible for all schools to provide their students with valuable resources. (Janet Moore)
Digital Divide
Deepak Subramony discusses educational technology and the digital divide in the 21st century. He addresses three specific issues related to educational technology; equitable access to and proficiency in information and communication technologies (ICT) integration in teaching, learning workflow and lifestyles, transformative impact of ICT on the lives of communities of cultural minority learners, and the needs and aspirations of a diversifying target learner/ICT-user population. Those lacking ICT access in the 21st century are at risk of lacking knowledge and skill and consequently trapped in a vicious downward spiral of disempowerment and alienation. (Edward Tompson)
The Global Search for Education: Education Technology
This article from the Huffington Post sheds light on the use of technology in classrooms, specifically through the use of Ipads in the classroom. In an attempt to analyze the resourcefulness of the Ipad, author C.M. Rubin interviewed education specialist Tony Wagner. At the beginning of the article, Rubin challenges the role of Ipads in the classroom as well as the ability of teachers to effectively involve them in the learning process. Based on research from his new book: Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, Wagner defends the role of Ipads, citing the convenience that the tablet brings to the classroom. Wagner is a strong proponent for the use of technology in the classroom. He considers knowledge to be a commodity in our current tech-centered society. He stresses the importance of developing “21st century skills” in students to develop “life-long learning.” Wagner claims that using Ipads (along with other technology tools) in classroom is vital to developing students to be confident in an ever growing technology focused society. (Adam McDonald)
Not all ebooks are good textbooks. And online textbooks? All they want is district money.
This horrible situation happened in Huntington, Virginia where the district bought online math textbooks for grades K-12. Not only did this create problems for families with slow or no internet connection, it also made access to the content on other devices (i.e. phones and kindles) and sharing of PDFs impossible. It should be the goal of schools to move forward to move forward with technology to give student the opportunity to learn content and give them access to the modern tools. This, however, is a reminder that sometimes a 12 old math textbook is more modern than an online textbook whose main concern is limiting its access to be shared, printed, and copied.(Michael Klaport)
The Child-Driven Education
This is a TedTalk done by Sugata Mitra about allowing children to utilize technology in order to teach themselves. He started by placing a small computer screen in the center of a children's area in India. At first, the students had no idea how to use it or what it was for. In about two days, several students became extremely sufficient with the computer and even taught their peers how to use it. This is all done with no adult help or supervision. He replicates this idea in several more countries with somewhat different scenarios. He finishes his talk with an example from Italy where the students did not speak English and he did not speak Italian. He wrote questions on the board in English and allowed the students to work in groups with computers in order to discover the answers. His main point is that students need to work together in order to learn new material rather than have a teacher lecture them on the material. I find this idea interesting especially in questioning what our roles as teachers need to be considering the advances in technology and with our students' cognitive development. (Jessica Goakey)
Technology in Education
The article, Technology in Education, from Education Week summarizes the rapidly changing trends in educational technology. Both opportunities and challenges of the role of technology in schools are presented, focusing mainly on e-learning, research databases, mobile computing, and social networking. There are also a lot of programs and ideas presented that could be good ideas for future tech tools. I highly suggest scanning through this article because it provides studies and statistics to justify both sides of this challenging and constantly changing technological issue in education. (Kirsten Phillips)Tech Solutions for Special Kids
There is much news and reporting in education circles today about technology integration and the use of technology to teach general education lessons in new ways. Much less is heard about technology to assist special needs students. An interesting article in Education World discusses the use of technology to help kids with special needs participate fully in classroom lessons and activities. The article provides many resources and ideas that support learning of special needs students. (Kia Himstead)
Promoting Responsible and Ethical Digital Citizens
How do we as educators motivate students to be responsible and ethical life long learners in the digital age? An article in Education World explores some different ways we can prepare students to be "tech smart" when using technology. Broad categories include: care of equipment, safe sites, copyright law and creative commons, preventing cyber bullying, promoting a positive self image with social networking sites, appropriate online etiquette, giving credit to original sources, and the importance of critically thinking and reflecting about purpose, message and intent of any and all digital creation. (Kia Himstead)
Common Core Tech Demands Raise Budget Worries
Standardized tests are expected to be entirely administered electronically come the 2014-2015 school year. While this might seem efficient to some, it raises huge concerns specifically related to funding. For schools that are struggling to even get a decent computer lab set up, this task seems daunting. We know that these schools are already more at-risk for getting lower test scores (because of all of the institutionalized prejudice involved in standardized tests) but this makes the issue even more complicated. Furthermore, testing on computers might create some extra challenges for students who are not used to reading on a screen (the article cites eye fatigue as a potential problem), and for students who have trouble typing. (Fatima Arain)
8 Ways Technology is Improving Education
Sarah Kessler is responding to the new movement in American schools that is asking, "should we incorporate technology in our schools," while at the same time schools in other countries are asking, "how should we incorporate technology?" Kessler cites Don Knezek's comparison of education without technology to the medical profession without technology. They can both happen without the use of advanced technology, but the evidence in clear in the medical profession that we are able to be way more efficient and detailed with technology. The remaining part of the article addresses 8 examples of how technology can be used in classrooms to further education in a way that wasn't possible without it. (Cassandra Rodriguez)
The Tor Project
Although this link does not make the direct connection to education, I think it is incredibly relevant to teachers training children to use the internet. Tor Project offers free software that helps maintain privacy and protects against surveillance. Children and adults use social media, free online resources such as google, and offer up information online on a daily basis without considering the implications. Teaching students about the importance of protecting their privacy while using the internet is crucial for their future and should be the foundation for introducing online lessons into the classroom. (Emma Klein)
Connecting the world
Hector Ruiz, delves into the difficulty but also the need for education to be spread world-wide. His company, AMD, is working on a 50x15 initiative. This project intends to connect 50% of the world by 2015. He goes on to explain that by providing access to the massive amount of knowledge available online, can allow developing nations to develop innovative entrepreneurial projects of their own. They will then be empowered to develop solutions to many of their own problems as well as inventions that they can then hopefully trade and bring money into their country. (Josh Keiner)
Connexions, a free, open-source, global clearinghouse of course materials.
Richard Baraniuk talks about saving schools money by getting ride of textbooks. He has designed a program which allows teachers to create, rip, mix, and burn coursework into a lesson plan; much the same way people can share music at a discounted price. This technology will make sharing knowledge much easier and cheaper for schools. This open sharing of information can change the teaching landscape for teachers and students. (Brandon Rymer)
Technology high school prepares students for workforce.
Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-Tech) is a school in Brooklyn, NY which basically combines high school and community college. Students graduate in six years instead of four and when they finish they are the proud recipients of not only a high school diploma but also an associates degree. IBM has consulted on the project with the idea that the students graduating from P-Tech will have a link into the technology industry due to their specialized education. New York plans on opening up more schools such as P-Tech, with a focus on Technological vocation. At P-Tech, the students aren't just stuck to computers all day, there is also a huge mentorship component, as classes are small and each student is paired with an IBM mentor. Because of this interactive apprenticeship approach, I see a huge value to this kind of specialized education. (Katherine Steele)
Coursera: What We're Learning from Online Education
In this TED Talk, Daphne Koller, professor at Stanford University and co-founder of Coursera,discusses how free online education is changing education as we know it. By giving people who don't have access to top-quality education the ability to take free online courses from top-ranked universities, Coursera is helping establish education as a fundamental human right, creating opportunities for lifelong learning, and enabling a wave of innovation. As she says, "Amazing talent can be found anywhere. Maybe the next Albert Einstein or the next Steve Jobs is living somewhere in a remote village in Africa, and if we could offer that person an education, they would be able to come up with the next big idea and make the world a better place for all of us." (Tina Pulliam)
Toys From Trash
In this article, David Silverberg interviews Indian inventor Arvind Gupta about his website Toys from Trash. He has been building science toys and experiments from common household objects and posting videos in English, Hindi, and Marathi, to encourage all students to experience the joys of science. By making toys from inexpensive materials, he is making science accessible to everyone and providing that flashy technology is not always need to fill a student with wonder. In our age of consumerism, Gupta's vision is very refreshing. (Dianne Betz)
Going Viral: The Implications of Global Access
Today, an image taken in Mexico can circulate around the globe in minutes. This article highlights the photo of a young Mexican child, with blonde hair. A passing tourist saw this young girl begging and immediately assumed that she had been kidnapped and forced to beg. He sent the message out in an effort to find her ‘real’ family and alert the authorities. However, this child is a citizen of Mexico. She was not kidnapped and this tourist simply jumped to the wrong conclusions because she was blonde. However, numerous children of color were also begging near this girl and the tourist didn’t stop to take their picture and alert the authorities. I would argue that this tourist was trying to act in the best interests of the child, but the Internet and his global connections not only allowed this to spiral out of control but clearly demonstrated that we are not living in a color blind society. I believe this important for education because we need to teach our kids to dissect the viral information they receive each day in order to enhance critical thinking skills and encourage discussions around living in a prejudiced world and we can work to change that. (This is one of many articles surrounding the photo). (Jessica Maxine Gregory Gordon)
Do Cell Phones Belong in the Classroom?
This article from the May 2012 Atlantic brings up an interesting point: cell phones are inescapable in most American high schools, but are they always bad? Besides claiming the need of cell phones for emergency situations, cell phones could be used for good, the author Robert Earl suggests. Students can set alarms and reminders for assignments, they can jot down notes with an app, and they can be an interactive part of a lesson, say with class polling. But what Earl also proposes is that cell phones can do more harm than good. They can be incredibly distracting for students, who are busy text messaging their friends or watching videos on YouTube. They can also distract a teacher trying to conduct a lesson. The bottom line: cell phones take away from learning and help to decrease our students' already short attention spans. (Melissa Gaffney)
Rural Students Lost in Connectivity Gap
This article in the U.S. News education section addresses the challenges faced by kids in rural areas when it comes to technology. The article mentioned that only 50% of people in rural communities are connected to the internet. In addition, students in rural areas are spending hours on buses with little or no cell phone service. While schools are trying to provide students with as much access to technology as they can, the fact remains that these students are disadvantaged at home. Teachers in these areas cannot expect students to come to school with basic technological knowledge. In addition, teachers cannot assign homework that uses any technology. This means that all the learning for these students has to be done at school. (Justine Cramer)
A Teacher's Guide to Blended Learning
This website describes combinations of online learning and face-to-face learning that are in place in many high schools and middle schools. Examples of blended learning include more traditional-sounding schools, like High Tech School, where students rotate between a traditional teacher and an online instructional tool on campus. At the other extreme, Albuquerque Public Schools eCADEMY has one face-to-face class meeting at the beginning of each course, then the students are at home for the rest of the course with their computers and access to office hours as needed. The schools described on the website boast high retention rates and/or test scores at or above state average. I'd like to know whether these schools attract more self-motivated students, which would explain the good results. And what about that social/emotional learning? (Linda Wilson)
Multiple New Issues Schools Face Adopting Technology
In this article, Peter Martorella outlines what he believes are the top issues regarding education and technology today. He presents five major categories of issues some of which are ethical concerns in technology, internet usage, and First Amendment and privacy rights. Some of the ethical concerns in schools include theft of electronic devices such as laptops, theft of software, and unclear standards for plagiarism. Some of the issues regarding the internet involve sorting through which search engines are viable. Yet another issue Martorella puts forward is the First Amendment versus privacy rights and how freedom of speech comes up against the right to protect our students from malicious and indecent language on the internet. In our rapidly changing age of technology, this essay is very relevant. Even though it addresses several issues with technology, it outlines what we are dealing with today that we were not dealing with in the past. (Cara Kasperson)
Should We Care About Media Literacy? An Interview With Frank Baker
Media literacy is an important societal topic that I believe does not get a lot of national attention. Some may argue that it is a skill that is as much of a necessity as learning how to read and write. That being said, I would guess that many people do not recognize it as an essential learned skill set that should be part of the K -12 education system. In this article, Peter DeWitt provides a short Q & A from his interview with Frank Baker, the author of Media Literacy: 21st Century Literacy Skills. During the interview Baker provides his thoughts on what media literacy is, why media illiteracy is so dangerous, and how teachers can get students to care about being media literate. This article does a great job of creating awareness about the argument for media literacy and of creating more contemplation by educators as technology continues to be integrated into classrooms. (Brian Cates)
How Young Is TOO Young for Smart Phones and Tablets?
More and more often these days you see parents handing their young child—toddlers even—smart phones to keep them from fussing and causing a disruption in public. The question is: “Is this a healthy choice for my child’s learning?” It is often said that children under the age of five learn best with social interaction and observing the world around them; giving them this style of distraction could be detrimental to their education. As a societal Issue, I am wondering how this will impact education over the years to come. Will children be entering schools with a higher understanding of math, reading, and science? Or will they just have stunted social skills, causing additional burdens on elementary teachers that will need to work harder to build even basic social skills? Where will you stand when the time comes? (Jason O’Leary)
Future U: Classroom Tech Doesn't Mean Handing Out Tablets
It's an undeniable fact that technology is becoming an important part of the classroom. This article addresses the issue that teachers face when it comes to incorporating technology in their classrooms; they are often competing for the attention of their students with laptops, cell phones, etc. The important point that this article brings up is that teachers need to instruct their students how to incorporate technology into their students lives in a proper way. Students need to understand the proper way to interact with technology. This article also brings up the idea that the classroom of the future will be physically different than the ones we know today. It's possible that it turns into something more organic with students using technology to facilitate positive collaborative learning. A very interesting read! (Allyson LaRosa)
Does technology help or hurt empathy?
These two articles discuss ways that technology is hypothesized to help and hurt empathy levels. On the pro side, volunteering is increasingly a common practice. This may stem from a feeling of global connection fostered by the internet. On the con side, certain studies have shown that the feeling of empathy has decreased in recent years, possibly because of increasing isolation, but also potentially because people are reading fewer novels. In a world of fast paced media, less emphasis is placed on reading novels which require you to step into someone else's shoes and actually practice empathy. What do you think? How can we use this information to guide technology use and empathy building in our classrooms? (Alexis Nast)
The Sky's the Limit: Kids' Top Tools for the Classroom
This article discusses different technology tools (lab tops, Iphones, Blue Tooth, Web cams etc..) that kids desire to use more in the classroom. Many different tech tools are used in Seattle classrooms, however most classrooms throughout the country are not provided with enough funding to access any of these technological advances. Many kids are provided with cellphones by the age of 10 nowadays; similarly, many families have tablets that they use to teach their children how to read or play games. If kids have access to these in the classroom, they believe that they will be more stimulated to learn in the classroom. (Erin O'Rorke)
Classroom Cheating in the Digital Age
Technology has been a hot topic amongst educators today. Both sides of the argument provide valid points regarding its productivity in the classroom. The "pro" side argues that students of today are very tech savvy; students will stay engaged and learn more during lessons when using technology in the classroom. The “con” side argues that using too much technology in the classroom will cheat students of skills they learn from non-technological tools such as looking a definition up in the dictionary, not on google.com. This article falls under the “con” side and argues that technology is increasing the amount of cheating among students. Students have endless opportunities for deceit, including posting homework answers on blogs, taking pictures of tests and passing them to other students, and going to websites that will answer math problems for them. This article provides a valid argument against technology mixing with education. (Kelly Guy)
The Future of Textbooks: eBooks in the Classroom
The digitization of both books and textbooks has been a much talked about issue for the past several years. From journalists to sociologists/anthropologists, educators, students, parents, and beyond, individuals and groups from a variety of disciplines are weighing in on the advantages and disadvantages of electronic text. This article discusses both the pros and cons of digital textbooks, in particular, and explores whether it is an efficient fiscal or educational move to switch to digital textbooks in the classroom. Although textbook publishers fear their demise with the possibility of some degree of universal adoption of e-textbooks, this transition won’t occur for some time even if it does occur. Woudstra posits the potentially detrimental health or learning issues that could result from significant time spent reading from an e-book. With a technology that is still in many ways new and with effects that have yet to potentially surface, how can we truly know whether it is a smart move to digitize the classroom? With students spending so much time in from of screens and interacting with technology (often to the detriment of face-to-face interactions), is the digitization of educational texts only going to further exacerbate the negative effects of such a technology-centric and instant gratification-seeking culture that their lives are already steeped in? Do the fiscal costs outweigh the potential social costs? Is it too soon for educators to jump on the digital bandwagon? (Stephannie Franks)
CBC Television on WiFi Health Dangers In Schools
This video contains episodes of CBC news and CBC 16:9 (two Canadian channels) that focus on the possible health dangers of WiFi in school. According to specialists in the video, a small percentage of the population is hypersensitive to radiation like that emitted from WiFi and they experience adverse health effects such as headaches and heart palpitations when exposed to it. Official radiation exposure standards were not based on any studies that explored possible health effects on children, whose bodies are smaller, more penetrable, and more vulnerable than adults bodies. As a result there may be other adverse effects on health that prolonged WiFi exposure could produce in children that at present we are not aware of. Some parents featured in these videos are advocating for schools to use cables rather than WiFi as a precautionary measure until more is known about WiFi's health effects. (Lauren Kayda)
In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores
This article discusses an issue concerning the use of technology in the classroom: does technology really improve student learning? The author focuses on the Kyrene School District in Arizona, which has invested roughly $33 million dollars for new technologies under an approved ballot initiative. The students in this district are learning in completely new ways. In a seventh-grade English class, students are creating blogs and Facebook pages from the standpoint of Shakespeare’s characters. Although students in the Kyrene School District are learning in fun and engaging ways, their test scores have stagnated. Many education experts are noticing how schools are spending billions on technology even though and there is little proof that technology-centric classrooms are actually improving basic learning. (Theresa Han)
The Pros & Cons of Facebook
Although this article is brief and probably doesn't really tell most of us anything we didn't already know, I appreciate that it shows both the pros and cons together. This article explains that to many people Facebook isn't simply a website, but the entire internet itself. Students are spending ungodly amount of time on Facebook and teachers are trying to understand how to use it to their advantages. Using it for things like class discussion boards can be successful considering students are constantly on Facebook anyways and they are more likely to actually participate more in discussions with other students. However, there are still downsides including poor archiving abilities and excessive advertisements. This article is attempting to look at Facebook in the classroom from a more practical level and how it can be used and when it should be avoided. Whether we like it or not, Facebook isn't going to go away any time soon so we need to know how we can and can't use it in the classroom. (Anna Hawryluk)
Can technology be our friend?
There is no denying the enormous benefits of using technology in the classroom. We see technology being used more and more everyday. Kids love to use computers and computer software. It can aid special needs students, enhance your learning targets, increase relatability of subject matter and provide the set or hook you need to get your class focused and interested. However, I think careful thought around its use and relevance should be exercised. What about online classes with limited to no interaction with teachers at all? As more and more virtual classroom situations become the norm, the quality and accessibity of education for all students may decline even further. Here is an interesting article that looks at some of the benefits and problems associated with virtual classrooms. Overall I think its important for any person pursuing a career in education that technology can only take us so far with students. In addition we can’t ignore the fact that the world we are living in today has more and more technology and is being used at a rapid pace. (Molly Conner)
Why "Googling it" Is Not Enough
This article explores how teaching students to "Google it" may be hindering students' ability to actually do thoughtful and original research. While most teachers admit that the internet has amazing opportunities for research, especially when it comes to the depth and breadth of information, it also has a lot of information that is unhelpful and flat-out lies. Part of our obligation to students who are used to "Googling it" is to teach them how to do true academic research online, utilizing journals and real research websites and being critical consumers of the internet. Many of our students have trouble discerning fact from fiction on the internet which can lead to real repercussions for budding researchers. The basis from this article is taken from study results just released by The Pew Research Center on "How Teens Do Research in the Digital Age."(Robin Nider)
Technology Linked to Immaturity
This article explores the issue as an economic and a social issue. It outlines how the economic crisis has led students to be less motivated in school work. Since students are more concerned with survival and basic needs, they are not motivated to learn. The article also mentions how changes in society have caused students to value education less. However, with the proper use of technology students have been able to make advancements, specifically McMorran states "our middle-ability kids are performing at honors level of the past". While students have made academic progress compared with previous generations, the students of today are less able to problem solve and have lower attention spans than ever before. Students lack social connections with their peers since they choose to text instead of having face-to-face interactions. This article addresses the need for education to transform to fulfill the needs of technologically advanced students of today. Students have become passive in their learning since the classroom is not as enticing as the technology they use outside of the classroom. (Kathryn Batts)
Too Much Computer Exposure May Hinder Learning:
This article from USA Today, describes a study performed by researchers at the University of Munich. They data gathered from 175,000 students representing 31 different countries. The results of this extremely broad based study stated that students, with access to more than one computer in the home, actually suffered more than thrived in regards to math and reading scores. This article brings forth the main issue we have discussed in our Technology Strand: What is the appropriate use of technology for our students? I believe that computers and other forms of technology are incredible resources; however, they must be controlled and used in moderation. The results of this study support just that. (Jeana Greco)
Implicit Association Test (IAT)
With the progression of psychology and awareness towards prejudice, Harvard developed a tool that has the ability to assess a person's internal thoughts and beliefs towards another group of people. The test itself is based on response latency (how long it takes someone to respond to a question/parameter) and allows the test taker to receive a quantifiable result of their personal biases. As a technological tool, the IAT allows teachers, students, or anyone from the general public to directly confront the biases they may have towards minority groups. The technology of response latency is nothing new to psych research; however, using response latency in this fashion has allowed us delve further into the complex interaction technology and media has had on our preconceptions of marginalized individuals. (Rick Mora)
Computer Aided Design Programs
Computer Aided Design (CAD) programs are a great class to implement in schools to access more students and to have a vocational based class that could be essential for some students. CAD classes are a great way to teach to the STEM classes (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) since this is an area our entire country is failing at. CAD classes allow students to integrate spacial intelligence with mathematical skills and real world understanding. I think these are valuable skills for all students to have access to and these kind of classes can be essential to hook some students into skill. Another reason CAD classes are valuable is due to their potential for post high school job. CAD engineers can make a great living and walking away from high school with that skill in your pocket is a great opportunity. Also, if a student is interested in engineering or math in college CAD classes are essential to help bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical use. I know CAD classes have been around for a while but I hope that they continue to be offered in schools especially with the increasing demand for computer literate individuals in the work force. (Blake Stevens)