As a teacher, it’s important for me
to understand Olivia’s relationship with technology because:
We
can’t always make assumptions like a lot of teachers did when they thought that
the students weren’t able to use the technology since they don’t have regular
access to it. However, they find
ways to get to it (such as Olivia using the computer in her basement) and
figure out how to use it without instruction. Because it is something new and exciting that peaks their
interest, they put more effort into figuring it out. Technology is still cool for students. By incorporating it into the classroom,
you associate cool with you subject matter.
Because technology is such an
important part in Olivia’s life, as a teacher I could use that to my advantage
when trying to teach. Developing
assignments that peak the students’ interest in technology and incorporate
different aspects of technology that they use in everyday life would be a good
way to get them more interested in the assignment and gear it towards a way
that they will get more out of it.
Technology in Olivia’s life helps her get away from everything that is
going on and let’s her forget about things for a while. I think linking schoolwork to this
positive outlet of technology could help her have a positive relationship with
school and therefore help her studies improve.
There are many ways that young
people use technology to learn; not just to have fun. They find that through their hobbies that are based off of
technology, they actually are experiencing a great deal of education as
well. For example, in the video we
watched, one of the boys spoke about how his playing of online video games
contributed to his developed skills of communication and coordination in a
group setting. He explained that
it is easier to work with others after having so much practice working with
others to beat the game. In
addition, one girl spoke of how her hobby was to learn Japanese, which she did
through the Internet. To them,
technology like the Internet, opens a resource that would otherwise have not
been there. They take advantage of
it and use it to expand their horizons even when they are not asked to. Humans are naturally curious, so by
giving them more resources through technology, we are helping them to cure that
curiousity.
Three technologies that I use most
often in my life are my cellphone, social-networking sites/email and the
internet. These have impacted the
ways in which I learn new things mostly because of the accessibility they
provide. When I’m out, I always
have my phone on me. This means
that people can always get in touch with me and it also means I have access to
the internet and any information I might need at the moment. I can learn new things that make me
curious right there rather than trying to remember to look it up later (I would
usually forget). The internet and
social-networking sites allow me to stay in touch with people I care about and
learn about their lives easily.
As
compared to the students in the videos, I think I am very similar when it comes
to using technology for learning.
It is a great resource that I use without being directed. I use it on my own because I want to
learn more, not because a teacher said I had to. I think this helps make the learning more meaningful to the
student when they do it all on their own.
However, I wouldn’t say that technology becomes an escape as it does for
Olivia. It holds greater meaning
to her than it does for me.
Technology is important to me, but I think it is held higher in her life
than in mine.
