The first thing that really stood out to me while completing
my concept map was the difference in the various organizations’ definition of
the words “educational technology”. It
made me realize that even though a group’s goal might coincide with your own
their core beliefs could be, and most likely are, different. From this, I can see the importance of
applying your own perspective towards any information you might
assimilate. I also find the research
done into determining the plasticity of the human brain quite informative and
affecting of the ways we can reach our students. It gives me added hope and patience towards
those students that might prematurely designate negatively or
inaccurately. I can’t even imagine the ways
this could affect issues like the identification and classification of
educative disorders in students. This
exercise also had me reviewing my information gathering procedures. I need to see the value in informal sources
such as blogs and wikis. These sites,
even though not as dependable, can give great insight on otherwise established
concepts. It’s the fact that those who
run these sites have a different way of viewing things that gives it its value. It really makes me wonder about the amount of
information that I’ve ignored throughout my education. I do feel confident about the information
that I have used and learned, but, after being introduced to these new sources
of information, I have to say that it appears to be incomplete.
If we fail to teach our students how to use blogs, wikis,
and other educational technology, we risk leaving them unequipped for the future. It is already apparent that the traditional
classroom that I grew up with no longer exists.
Today’s student is given access to a class homepage where much of the
course work is available. Interaction is
not longer limited to group assignments that are to be completed in class or at
home. If we do not teach our students
how to actively access this new digital classroom, then we limit their ability
to participate properly and effectively.
Granted, with our students being born into this digital world and having
grown up constantly interacting with it, we might not have much to teach them
where technology is concerned. We do
need to help them to direct these natural digital skills towards fruitful
pursuits, interactions, and how to determine which and what is true.
Concerning the use of bookmarking tools, I can see some
great advantages to using them to help organize information. The main advantage that I found in using
wikis, my tool of choice, comes from the ease of collecting sources of
information and being able to link and categorize them at whim. I do in fact do the same thing through my
browser’s bookmark tool so I feel that there is a certain level of redundancy present. Although, I do find it helpful to be able to
make notations on which link is more apt to answer particular questions. I can see how using these tools to collect information
and direct my future students towards particular paths of study and interests
can be beneficial. It would help to
direct my students towards sources of reputable information and away for those
which base their information false accounts.
I would also grant my students access to the same knowledge and
information that I am privy to when it comes to clarifying an assignment or concept. I’m most excited to use this tool as a means
to assess my students and the progress through their comments and
contributions.
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