My first impression, when I hear "technology in the classroom" is what we used to have when I was in junior high and high school - overhead projectors and reel-to-reel movies.
This was fine for the time, but I remember fondly a teacher putting on a movie one day and the results were not what she expected. It was late June, hot and stuffy in the classroom and it was the last class of the day. I think it was even a Friday. And the movie was about (get this) Mesopotamia! Well, each and every one of us fell fast asleep! Of course, she replayed it in the next class with the threat that if we fell asleep she would make us do a test on it. To this day, I don't know anyone who remembers anything about that movie. Or the test.
Adam has a good point. He says that we can use tech or not, but if we find it useful, then use it. I think that is not unlike the common hammer. We can put nails in with high heels or the ends of toothbrushes, but a hammer works best. I think that's what he's saying. It's a choice.
Mary Beth Hertz says that "to connect with our students we need to meet them where they are", I agree and disagree. For art, particularly in the early grades, I think there's no substitute for hands-on, but maybe for the higher levels we can let them learn about digital art. For some that might be a career choice and learning early will only help.
Both of these teachers seem to be talking about, specifically, making movies. Well, for that yes, technology is king at the moment. But an amazing art form has fallen away since we began to use digital imaging, and that is Special Effects. Technology has replaced the need for artisans.
Using the internet so students can share their work with the entire world is an interesting topic. We must also school these children about the dangers lurking on the internet. They think of it as a private place for their details, photos, work and feelings, but it is a dangerous, dark place, especially for innocent children.
I can see some wonderful opportunities for making learning more exciting by integrating technology. For example, math. There are many math-phobes out there who benefit greatly from online, interactive learning. As long as the teacher is there to teach, then there are many websites where a student can practice. This is much more interesting than worksheets, although those too have their benefits.
Traditional teaching methods and technology can exist side-by-side as long as there is a balance.
This was fine for the time, but I remember fondly a teacher putting on a movie one day and the results were not what she expected. It was late June, hot and stuffy in the classroom and it was the last class of the day. I think it was even a Friday. And the movie was about (get this) Mesopotamia! Well, each and every one of us fell fast asleep! Of course, she replayed it in the next class with the threat that if we fell asleep she would make us do a test on it. To this day, I don't know anyone who remembers anything about that movie. Or the test.
Adam has a good point. He says that we can use tech or not, but if we find it useful, then use it. I think that is not unlike the common hammer. We can put nails in with high heels or the ends of toothbrushes, but a hammer works best. I think that's what he's saying. It's a choice.
Mary Beth Hertz says that "to connect with our students we need to meet them where they are", I agree and disagree. For art, particularly in the early grades, I think there's no substitute for hands-on, but maybe for the higher levels we can let them learn about digital art. For some that might be a career choice and learning early will only help.
Both of these teachers seem to be talking about, specifically, making movies. Well, for that yes, technology is king at the moment. But an amazing art form has fallen away since we began to use digital imaging, and that is Special Effects. Technology has replaced the need for artisans.
Using the internet so students can share their work with the entire world is an interesting topic. We must also school these children about the dangers lurking on the internet. They think of it as a private place for their details, photos, work and feelings, but it is a dangerous, dark place, especially for innocent children.
I can see some wonderful opportunities for making learning more exciting by integrating technology. For example, math. There are many math-phobes out there who benefit greatly from online, interactive learning. As long as the teacher is there to teach, then there are many websites where a student can practice. This is much more interesting than worksheets, although those too have their benefits.
Traditional teaching methods and technology can exist side-by-side as long as there is a balance.