Anthro-Tech

I find that the best way to learn of a new culture is to immerse yourself in it, so fo find out about my school's technology culture I went underground, disguised myself as a teacher, and listened to the word on the street. (Okay, that part was easy because I am a teacher and this is stuff I need to know.) In this manner, I found out the following things.

• Despite the fact that I have only been teaching here for a month, I understand the technology policies as well as most.
• Official policies are scarce.
• New administration means everyone learns together.
• Our technology capabilities are growing.
• Everyone is free to share their input about technology and all advice will be considered.
• We are getting ready to spend lots of money on new technology.
• Ms. Fierst, the High School technology leader, is a great woman to have on my side.
• Jason, the techno guru at my school, will be getting lots of cookies from me this year (thanks for the hint.)

Right now it seems like things are just getting organized. Hopefully, as a team our school can come together and figure it out. We do use technology frequently as it is, but with some upgrades, we can make it far more applicable to our students.

To view my Anthro Tech report please visit http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhgrrdcq_3g2vbmgcs&hl=en

Listen to the Natives by Marc Prensky

Overview:

Listen to the Natives by Marc Prensky is an insightful look into how best to engage our student's attention through updating our curriculum to include technology at every level of education. It is Prensky's argument that if our students are not engaged, it is because the educational system as currently excluding their input and expertise. He argues that if we use the technology that engages their attention outside of the classroom and give them further involvement in the format of the class we can make what they learn relevant to their lives and harnass their energy.

Reference Points:

1. Today's kids are natives of the technology era and are served best by what they know.
2. We are the foreigners in their world and must use their abilities to guide us.
3. Students are engaged by technology outside of school and if we use this same technology within school they will thrive.
4. If they are not engaged it is our problem, not theirs.
5. By using today's technology we can connect students where we live to students and adult mentors worldwide.
6. Technology can also make the teaching profession easier by connecting us to great teaching strategies that are being employed worldwide.
7. Using technology in the classroom can enable us to teach kids the life skills they need to know in school.
8. If we don't make these changes school will become outdated and useless.
9. Rather than make is against the rules we should encourage students to use technology, such as cell phones, in reasonable ways in class.
10. By giving students responsibility in the classroom we are enabling them to be their best.

Significance:

Prensky's article is highly relevant to the educational world we are entering. The old methods of teaching are becoming outdated and leave our students feeling excluded from the world of knowledge. If we are going to make lifelong learners out of our students we must follow their lead and plan activities that result in better understanding but that are also engaging to our audience. That being said, Presnky takes things a bit too far in my opinion. While we must help our students grow, this cannot be only in the field of technology. We need to remind our students that simple pleasures still exist and incorporate a dynamic of technology and old school education that keeps kids engaged without losing the more basic wonder that we grew up with. There are two sides to every argument and Prensky recognizes only one extreme. A more balanced view might better serve our students.

Futuring 2008

• A. How would you “grade” or assess Fox Becomes a Better Person, and School Train?
  
  Not knowing the original criteria set forth by the teacher, I would grade Fox Becomes a Better Person and School Train, set forth by the criteria I know.
  
  School Train clearly demonstrates an understanding of what a metaphor is. The use of technology in the portrayal at times is a little over-whelming, but it is easy to understand the connection between a school and a train. The media is obviously not detrimental to the overall point, and therefore, the students have successfully attained the requisite goal of expressing their understanding.
  
  Fox Becomes a Better Person is harder to judge because I have a weaker understanding of the criteria. The traditional morals of the Tlingit I believe are present and Hannah shows great intent in her purpose. Hannah pairs the traditional manner of storytelling nicely with modern technology and respect for today’s society and that of days gone is maintained. I would grade her highly as created her own story with aspects from today (ex. the duck’s scooter and his fall-back hobby of watching T.V.) with traditional values.
  
  B. What impacts could the developments portrayed in epic2015 have on your classroom, particularly with respect to things like podcasting?
  
  epic 2015 portrays what might happen as technology continues to spiral forward. It predicts that someday soon technology could sift out information to suit each individual’s interest. To me this is a scary thought.
  
  The concept that technology, once thought to broaden our understanding of the world, could narrow the view of information that each sees is frightening. This is a concept that we need to fight against as teachers. We work to broaden students' viewpoints as well as their horizons. We need to use technology to engage their attention, and put their brains to use in a productive manner. Technology, such as video conferencing, smart boards, google searches, and podcasts can help us to do this, but we need to be aware of what we are doing, and the dangers that may present themselves.
  
  C. How might you use Sabrina’s piece as a model for something you would do with your own students?

• Sabrina Journey looks at her past to see how she has arrived at her present. She does this by following the outlook of traditional peoples by viewing her life not in a linear fashion, but by following a circular pattern. I would use her circular narrative as an example for my students and ask them to…
  
  1. Look back
  2. Examine the positive influences in their stories
  3. Make goals for their future
  4. Think about what they are going to positive participants

• We would plot their past as they know it, their present in relation to their past, and their future as they would like to see it evolve. This is an important concept for the kids I work with as teen pregnancy is a huge issue here. By asking my students to examine the big picture, maybe they will make goals that inspire them to strive for the good of the community in the future.