According
to Vanessa Domine, technology is “a way of thinking about information,
knowledge, and the world at large” (Domine, 7). Technology is synonymous with
knowledge. When reading about this assignment I thought about how technology
has influenced my life through two perspectives: technology for general
purposes and technology in the classroom. In general, the three most
influential technologies in my life are the Internet, smart phones/cell phones,
and social media. These general technologies help with both communication and
mass communication. They also provide access to information and help to stay
connected with friends and family on the Internet.
Technology
can also be utilized in schools as an educational tool. The Internet has
boundless amounts of information that can be helpful in getting material
across. Three technologies that I think are important in the classroom are
PowerPoint, online journals (like JSTOR), and through streaming videos such as
those found on YouTube. PowerPoint
provides a visual aid for students and it is very accessible by providing a
good amount of information. I believe that as a teacher I would utilize this
technology to go over main ideas. I also feel like online journals are
important because they are often peer-reviewed and provide credible
sources. Also, I like youtube.com (and
other streaming media sites) because it is a fun way to get information. I use
these technologies pretty often as a student, and hope to implement them in my
classroom.
The video “Olivia’s Story”, presented a
perspective on Olivia’s relationship to technology through her daily life and
her education. In some ways, Olivia’s experience could resemble students’
involvement with technology in New Jersey. While watching this video Olivia
lives in an urban area, she takes public transportation and has limited access
to technology, but it is very important in her life. She uses a cell phone and
social media sites to stay connected. When needed, she usually utilizes school
computers and a computer in her apartment building. According to the video, a
teacher stated that only 1/3 of her students had access to computers. Teachers
must be understanding and knowledgeable about their students’ access to
technology. Also, New Jersey has many urban areas/districts so her story can be
relatable.
The second
video we were required to watch was “Learning
to Change, Changing to Learn” portrayed students and their relationships
with technology. In general, the students depicted technology as improving
their lives. A major component that the students all shared was using
technology for communication and coordinating with people and group members.
These students also felt that technology has helped them express themselves.
They also discussed how technology makes things convenient for learning and
easy to access for information. Students also discussed how technology has
helped them improve their reading and writing skills.
Similarly
to the videos, I feel technology has had a big impact on my life, both in
general and academically. In school, the Internet and technological tools I
discussed help facilitate learning. For
example, PowerPoint is a visual aid that helps get main ideas across. I feel
this will be helpful, not only as a student, but as a teacher. Also, the
typical use of technology in my life has improved my ability to communicate and
stay connected with friends and family. Communication played an important role
in the two videos. A major theme I saw in the videos was technology making
things convenient and accessible. The
tools I discussed for educational purposes were not really addressed, but there
were noticeably more similarities than differences. One of these similarities
was making information easier to find. I
wish they addressed this topic more, in order to relate technology to the
classroom.
