Tech Task #2 – Old article from CBC

I’m so proud of myself. I’m trying so hard to use all my tools that Alec has been discussing in class. So I went onto my igoogle and went onto my CBC option that I have on the main page of my igoogle. Once at CBC I searched “education + technology“. I found an article from a couple years ago, that discussed Canadian students and technology. It was based on a survey done that had finding stating students thought technology is integral to them becoming successful in the future and that they didn’t feel their technology education was being met. I thought it was an interesting article and I guess it triggers a fear of mine as a future teacher. I fear that I won’t be able to provide the information that fulfills my students learning. I want them to come out of my class feeling that my information and processes are usual and relevent to their lives and their futures. Technology freaks me out because of that. I’ve never been current with technology and now how do I get current with technology when it’s such a quickly evolving thing. How can I stay current when I can’t even catch up and how can I catch up when I don’t know where to begin. Can I skip and just go into whats new and if I do that will I GET IT?!?
Check out the article I’ve got posted a link to it and then post your thoughts, comments or concerns.

Sorry Sarah

Just before I start… wanted to send out an apology to Sarah.  I appreciated the comment (it was my first after all) and I accidentally marked it as spam… or said that I didn’t want it to show,  anyway I somehow trashed it and now i feel badly.

About Me – Tech Task #1 ecmp355

I am 23 (nearly 24) years old.  I just finished my first year of schooling at the University of Regina, in the program of Arts Ed. as an after degree student.  My first degree was from the University of Saskatchewan, majoring in Studio Arts.  I then spent a year at the University of Alberta attempting to finish my minor in chemistry. 

My mom, dad, and older sister (Heather) all live in Drumheller, Alberta. I grew up there, although I don’t spend much time there now.  My mom is in charge of Human Resource and all the contracts for the Royal Tyrell Museum, my dad is a mixed animal veterinarian, and my sister is marketing coordinator at the Rosebud Theatre and School.  At the moment I’m working at Nicor Group, which is a property management, property development, and property realty company, in Regina.  Its fun and the people are great.

As far as technology and I go… well I didn’t know how to properly save a file until I took a digital imagery course a couple of years ago.  I can manage but I seem to be one of those people who have weird things happen to them constantly.  I think technology is never easy…. even though its supposed to be!

I spend my entire day, at work, using microsoft word and excel, while at home I work with a mac.  I bought the mac when I first started my digital imagery class because my prof recommended it and haven’t looked back since.  Though I would really like to use it on a larger scale.  I know I’m only scraping the surface of what that computer is capable of doing.

I like the idea of technology in a classroom.  I’m always looking for inventive ways to bring learning to a student.  And since technology is current – it’s relevant in a class and will be something students are interested in.  Gone are the days of mavis beacon!! WHOOP WHOOP! My only concern is that at what point do we put down aside the technology and interact face to face on a human level.  I love that technology connects people who are apart but don’t we still want an excuse to actually get together.  I think that sort of interaction is always going to be necessary in a classroom.

As far as things like youtube, myspace, facebook, etc. go I think like anything they can be used for good or evil.  The amount of relevant material at your fingertip is endless.  Why wouldn’t you welcome that into your class.  Just be aware that with all that knowledge comes some questionable material.

I expect to be more comfortable on a computer.  I expect to be able to do the basics on a lot of cool computer things.  I expect to want to learn this information and for it to keep my attention.  I expect to find the information useful.  I expect to use the knowledge in a future classroom.  I expect my professor to be excited about the material he is teaching and spread that excitement to the rest of the class!