Immersed in a deep ocean of technology (Gulp)

The question is..."Given that we are immersed in technology, how do we "see" it in order to evaluate its utility and impacts?"

In order to answer this question I have to remove the term "see" and replace it with "navigate." It seems that we don't always have a clear sunny day around us to look off into the distance and "see" what is out there and forthcoming in the fast paced world of technology. Instead, like a day out on the water we have to prepare for what we can account for and use our own wits and senses to navigate what lies ahead. My suggestions:

• Bring back up navigation-like a compass, cross-checking your resources and information is always a good idea no matter what the source.
• Bring a friend- the buddy system helps with accountability in addition to providing more thought, creativity, and knowledge.
• Layer, layer, layer- like southeast Alaska the technology environment can be fairly unpredictable. Make sure to learn and include a variety of types of technology, and when to use them appropriately. Use a video as an element to your power point presentation or show your students how to digitally archive their schoolwork.
  

Mantra for Technology

I had a hard time finding a mantra that would captivate the many sides and purposes of technology. I think "creativity and responsibility" works well.

Handheld Computers in School

I had an epiphany today in class regarding this exact topic. We were in the computer lab researching for an activity when a student pulled out what I think is called an iTouch. It's an iPod meets iPhone gadget with amazing clarity and easy to perform touch screen. Not only did the student have an extensive collection of music, he had easy access to the internet as if it were a laptop not just a handheld internet phone. It was amazing! Then I thought to myself, how many students have access to these types of gadgets? How much time do they spend attached to their handheld devices (I just realized that "handheld" has become its own word)? For 25 years old, sometimes I feel a little archaic. In any case, like most technology, it has the potential to be an amazing resource. It has also acquired the role of being an essential part of understanding and functioning in our current society. I see this as being a great opportunity to be able to spend more individual attention to students on IEPs or just need more time to take notes. i.e. just use bluetooth technology to send a copy of the notes to the student or instant feedback from anywhere. However, if I thought cell phones and texting were a major distraction...the sky is the limit with these new devices.

Is Technology pushing new literacy??

The answer is yes, absolutely. However, it raises a wave of new questions and attaches new values to old practices. One example we used in class is GarageBand, a computer program that comes standard with most mac computers. Upon exploration of this program, I realized it lets people play instruments who don't know how to physically play an instrument. Music thus becomes accessible to far larger portion of the population. Compositions can be created by ear and with a variety of instruments. It is truly amazing, and has the possibility to be a great resource for students, especially for those in rural environments and little access to music teachers and instruments. Although, it does seem that it would be necessary to create a new genre for music composed in this matter. In addition, as a colleague of mine pointed out, "what about performance art?" What about the discipline it requires to learn an instrument? While I think these concerns and questions are valid, I think it is valuable to students to have access to the exposure and exploration of music. It seems to me that for students, learning to "read" and internalize new forms of media only broadens the possibilities for beneficial outlets of communication.