Post #1 or A Student and their Computer

A paragraph about why you think computers are an important part of the educational experience and critical concerns related to how teachers and students use computers. Use Chapter 1 to find appropriate terminology and get you thinking. Do you agree or disagree with issues raised in Chapter 1? Why or why not?

A paragraph on how you think you will use computers in your classroom. Use the textbook (Ch 1) to get ideas. What do you hope to learn in this class to help you achieve these goals?

A paragraph on anything you would like to share/discuss with your classmates, especially if it applies to this course, technology in general, or your future career. Just have fun!
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Ideally, every student in America would have a laptop that was linked to an account that was linked with their teacher's account at school. That laptop could be used by the student for everything. Students could type their assignments so they wouldn't be making excuses about not having pens or paper, e-mail the assignments so there is less chance for the work to get lost, and have access to a plethora of programs that a teacher could instruct the student to use to assist with the learning experience. But, as with anything, new problems would be created by the use of personal laptops. Students would leave their laptops at home or break them. So, maybe not a great idea. But, the general use of computers would benefit both students and teachers in the learning experience.

One of the issues raised in Chapter 1, computer literacy, is becoming less and less of an issue every day. Children are being introduced to computers at a very young age. Honestly, as we cross into a more technologically advanced classroom, I think training the instructors on how to use the equipment is more of an issue than getting the children to understand.

I don't plan on focusing my entire lesson plan on computer use, simply because I think that is a lazy way to teach. While Powerpoint presentations and the like are excellent tools for assisting with instruction, as I told my soldiers in a recent class I gave, "I'm not reading off of a Powerpoint to you guys like everybody else has today, because an amazing slideshow can't make up for a crappy instructor." The tools are definitely useful, but tools can never do a job, they just make it easier.

I've given a handful of classes... :-) I love technology and I know how amazing it can be. Things can be done today using technology and computers that were once thought impossible. But, never let yourself become dependent on anything but your own passion and talent for teaching. That should always drive you to help your students learn and be successful, but computers make a good "Vanna White." :-)

con·vul·sion

Just throwin' this out there. :-)

con·vul·sion

n. An intense, paroxysmal, involuntary muscular contraction. An uncontrolled fit, as of laughter; a paroxysm. Violent turmoil: "The market convulsions of the last few weeks have shaken the world" (Felix Rohatyn).

Introduction of Me

Hello, class. As stated in the Ice Breaker by the student who received my card, my name is Jeremy and I'm a newly-decided English Education major.

I'm from the small town of Havana, FL. The English spoken there isn't exactly on par with college-level, and the ability to communicate the English language is so very important in this country, so I decided to dedicate my efforts in teaching to the art of speaking, writing, reading, and appreciating English.

I enjoy creating and posting movie reviews with my webcam on youtube. The address for that is www.youtube.com/Brockalock1, so check that out in your spare time...or even when you probably have something better to do. Good time waster. :-) So, enjoy that.

The best experience of my life, and definitely the most self-fulfilling and self-rewarding was the three years I spent in the United States Army. I learned how to be a man in the Army and take care of myself. I met amazing people, and I even met one that introduced me to an amazing opportunity in helping create a new website, cranies.com! The website is a blog site with an e-commerce platform incorporated which can be used for buying, selling and trading information, ideas, e-books, recipes, tips, hints, and any type of knowledge that you think the world would be willing to buy. Ideas can be bought or sold for as little as five cents or as much as you'd like, so it is accessible to everyone, including college students who have stopped getting money from their folks because they spend it all at Zia Juice. So, check that out.

I look forward to having an awesome semester and getting to work with you all every Monday!

LAter.