Chapter Ten Reflection

For my group assignment, we are looking at the ways technology has changed in the classroom.  We are specifically looking at the difference between using a Smartboard vs. the older Whiteboard (blackboard) methods.  Some educators are resistant to the technological advances in the classroom for various reasons.  Some feel that technology makes students "lazy" in their reading and writing skills because it is becoming harder to focus on the written word.  Therefore I was interested to see the "Child's Story Dictation Using Speech Recognition Software" on page 288.  The student dictated their story to the computer which used voice recognition software to translate it into written word.  The student was shocked to see that the computer's output was totally incorrect.  The student then had to go back over the printout, reread the story and add proper punctuation, capitalization and fix word confusion.  In my opinion, this is a MORE effective way to teach a student to edit their work.  I know that personally, if I spell a word incorrectly a million times, I  might not notice, but if I see it printed wrong in the form of written text, I will notice it immediately. 

I also was interested in the section on pages 290-291 about the advantages and disadvantages of digital storybooks.  Many teachers with Smartboard technologies in the classroom are relying more and more on the digital storybook.  One thing mentioned in the book that teachers may overlook is that students understanding about what is taking place may be hindered by the moving pictures.  If the words are printed alongside an animation, students are hardly likely to follow the written word, instead focusing on the animation.

Ahh...Technology

This week was a good lesson on technology for me.  During the storm, I was sitting in my parents den, watching TV and feeding my daughter.  When the flood waters started to creep up the grass in my backyard, I figured we were safe because my parents bought a generator...we would never lose power.  At 10:15, my fiancee was complaining because the television kept interrupting his DVR version of Dexter and my mom was mad the Internet kept kicking her offline.  Forty-five minutes later, that same room, TV and computer were submerged in water that took over two floors of their house.  With no lights, no TV, no computer, dying cellphones with no way to charge we were at a loss for what to do.  We have no coping skills, no survival skills, no way of communicating to other family members.

Thankfully, my favorite TV show is called Revolution.  It is the first season it is on and the premise of the show begins with a "Blackout".  All over the world, electronic devices shut off, no cars, planes, tv, lights...nothing technology based works.  The show then follows the different characters as they have to learn how to survive as colonists once did.  Since I started watching this show, it really made me realize how much we rely on technology and what I would do if that ever happened to us.

Apparently my thinking came in handy.  After the lights went out that Monday, I filled up whatever I could find with clean water, collected candles and matches and tried to keep everyone calm. 

Technology maybe important in my life, but I won't let it take over my WHOLE life.