Digital Blog Post L: Chapter 12

Here are the three most important concept I learned from this chapter:

1. Stages of Technology Integration
2. One-to-One Laptop Computing
3. Technology and the Culture of Schools

When I think back to when I was still in school teachers were barely starting to incorporate the computers into daily lessons, but I slowly noticed how it became more prominent as I went up in grade levels.  So one conclusion I can draw is that school did not just shove the technology based lessons immediately into their curriculum, but rather they chose to slowly blend it in in a more natural in subtle way.  I still remember my first reaction in seeing computers in the classroom, all I wanted to was just to start pressing all of the buttons, but we did not actually start to use the computers until about halfway into the year, and the TA for that class had to constantly supervise us while we did our work.  So when it comes to introducing new technologies to the lesson a teacher must always start off slowly to give students enough time to adjust to the agenda that has been set for them to use that technology properly.

I know a lot of school nowadays are making it mandatory for students to have some kinds of portable technology that gives them internet access, even it is only limited to the classroom.  There a middle school I had to observe several weeks ago that mandated chrome-books to each students, and most students understood the protocols for specific classrooms such immediately checking programs for assignment updates or getting started on their bell-work that is submitted electronically.  The only thing that concerns me about this is that this is not the subtle approach to introducing technology in schools, they may teach students how to use it, but some maybe overwhelmed with the responsibility of its condition.  I also know that a lot students from foreign countries may be even more alarmed by this sort of curriculum, especially if their original school still only utilized the basic curriculum, as not every country has computers.

I am sure a lot of cultures are not too enthralled of the idea of having their children exposed to a whole new type of learning introduced by technology.  The news also does not help sway peoples minds when they are always showing reports of cyberbullying and suicide as a result of the internet, but then again who could blame them?  I personally believe that schools should have separate departments for those who prefer learning with technology, but also give the option to those who prefer not to have their children exposed to it.  It may become mandatory at some point, but instead of just forcing it on the child, they should have the parents take special classes on how to use and manage technology so that they may assist and supervise their child until they are comfortable.

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References:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
 Garza, R. (November 29, 2015) Websites created with Tackk. https://tackk.com/home