Even though I am youthful and grew up in an environment that utilized technology sufficiently, I developed a wary attitude toward its use in the classroom. I recognize that some tools on the computer do have certain benefits to the education of people who use them, yet I have my concerns.
Two of the readings for February 11th brought up certain points about multimodality that have been brewing about in my mind since beginning the class, and that were sparked by my reading of Nicholas Carr's book, The Shallows, which states, in short, that the Internet is a tool of distraction and is destroying the human mind. Through these couple of readings and permitting myself the time to dwell on the subject though, I have come to theorize that there are very fine distinctions between the argument Carr makes and the arguments made for multimodality.
The problem isn't that technology use is increasing, it's that how the technology is being used is what is causing the degeneration Carr talks about. Larry Rosen talks in his article, "Rewired," about how teens have become "rewired" to the digital world and that schools needs to catch up with them. "With all the technology that they consume, they need more from education."
Multimodal learning styles, including technology use, help to improve people's learning. The issues occur whenever people try to work with too many things at once and multitask which reduces learning. Kajder even plainly says, "When online digital youth typically engage in more than one digital medium at a time." This is how the Internet is constantly used which is why Carr's argument seems to accurate.
All in all, the medium is not the issue, but how the medium is being used is.
This is definitely thought provoking. I'm not honestly sure where I sit on this subject, but I do know that this is undoubtedly the world we are living, and soon to be teaching, in. The multitasking made possible by the way today's technology works can be detrimental to learning. That I definitely agree with. It is just going to be very difficult to combat that. I think teachers will need to work on understanding the multitask mindset of kids today, and work to change the way we teach to accomodate that. You opened my eyes to the fact that we, also, need to work to slow that mindset down. Teachers of this time are going to have learn, like you said, how to use the medium in the most effective way for educational purposes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't go to a school that was very shall we say "plugged in" when it came to new technology and so it was an adjustment when I came here using d2L and SMART boards, etc. I think for kids to succeed in today's market they need to be familiar with different forms of technology early. For example my soon to be three year old cousin knows how to operate the family iPad and perform different learning activities and games they have downloaded for her. Teachers need to keep up and learn how to use this medium for not only their advantage but the students advantage as well.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read Carr's text! I hope I am giving off the impression that I agree with you Carl. While I am teaching a class on "non-print media" I do consider it more a multimodal experience than a digital experience. A few years ago all of my student teachers were in classrooms and schools that were awarded Technology grants. And guess what? They got all this wonderful technology and didn't know how to use it. I think that trend is dwindling down.
ReplyDeleteI certainly think there are folks who use it use it, but on the flipside of that, look at how much we depend on it. I mean, most jobs require the individual to apply online.
I'm glad to see that you are all discussing its importance, but not just accepting that we blindly utilize technology.