Comments on: Don’t teach your kids this stuff. Please?

By: Ann Crosser

Ann Crosser — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:30:01 +0000

Dr. McLeod, This is a very interesting and provocative take on the subject of technology especially from the classroom teacher’s perspective. I’ve just finished an online course entitled Communicate and Collaborate Online. Even though this course was specifically designed for classroom teachers who develop a final project using Web 2.0 technologies to engage and encourage students to communicate and collaborate online I came at it from the perspective of being a teacher of teachers. So, teachers are my students. These are mostly mid-career changers coming into the teaching profession who are very familiar with technology on a business and personal level and possess these 21st century skills that we see as so important for student’s to learn in order to do well in college and careers later in life. However, these teachers may not be as familiar with using these Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom setting and often run up against roadblocks from colleagues, parents and administrators when trying to incorporate these technologies into their teaching. We often say about our teachers that they just don’t know what they don’t know. Well, neither did I. It’s real work to develop a meaningful and purposeful online course or component within a course. It takes hours of planning getting it ready to go so that students know it’s rigorous and not just busy work. Incorporating these technologies in this online component certainly opened my eyes to the obvious shift in power toward the students. It helped to facilitate giving students opportunities to practice mastering the material at their own pace. I could clearly see where the technologies supported the activities. Also, the students appreciated a structured, logical flow to their course. They liked learning how to organize assignments and activities in order to minimize confusion. Here the technologies supported how to organize and communicate course materials and expectations. It really allowed me to think of teaching as facilitating learning. Teaching with technology helped me to create learning experiences that complement each other whether the assignment was online or meeting in a face-to-face environment. It really drove the point home to me that student-centered teaching means creating assignments that allow students to practice building connections with the material, and evaluate their learning. The technologies helped students take ownership of their learning.  It changed my mind completely about the rigor and relevance of online courses or online components within a course. I’m a true believer now in the importance of developing 21st century skills in teachers and students alike.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:55:01 +0000

Hi my name is Brandy I am a student in edm310 at the University of South Alabama. I believe in some of things you said should not be taught or used. For one this young kids do not need cell phones. If they need to talk use the house phone or go visit. And I agree that tings like twitter is for to self absorbed to be used in a class room. I a teacher must use blogs they need to make sure the software used to protect the students is good. I have a deep fear of letting younger children have blogs because you don’t know if the other person is an online predator or not. I am glad someone shares my view.

By: KaShondra Rudolph

KaShondra Rudolph — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:09:17 +0000

Hello, my name is KaShondra Rudolph. I am an EDM310 student from the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed your blog post. Your post made a very great point in a sarcastic way. I have realized that there is both good and bad in everything we do and use in the world today. Technology especially, can have its pros and cons, but it is up to us as educators to help make the best of technology for our students. No a days, technology is one of those things that students must be introduced to. The future jobs of students today will all be technology based.

By: Darrius Mooney

Darrius Mooney — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:24:06 +0000

Hey Mr. McLeod,

My name is Darrius Mooney and I’m an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I agree with you wholeheartedly! This is the 21st Century where technology rule. Most parents and educators are stuck on the traditional way of life and teaching, which is okay. But nowadays without being well rounded in all things technological you are lost.

By: Jessica Sanders EDM310

Jessica Sanders EDM310 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 23:39:43 +0000

Hello Dr. McLeod

I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. When I was first reading your poem I was a bit confused, thinking why should we not teach our kids to read, write, or use technology, but after I read it again I realized what you were trying to say. Why keep our kids from learning these things just because there is a negative that usually follows? We should teach our kids to use these things responsibly

By: Kathryn Finklea

Kathryn Finklea — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:07:40 +0000

Hello Dr. McLeod

I am a student in Dr. Strange EDM310 class at the University of South Alabama. I found your poem to be very interesting. I had to reread it and look at the comments before I fully understood what you were saying. You stated many true statements. I think we should protect our kids from all the negative things the internet holds. Kids should be allowed to use the internet because it has more positive than negative effects.

By: Katie Cumlander

Katie Cumlander — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 05:37:38 +0000

Dr. Mcleod,

For everything that is good there is a bad. For something that someone could tell you a reason to do something, there is always a person there who can tell why not to do something. I believe that your post has done a great deal in making people think. I believe at one point in my education career I felt the exact way as your post reads. I didn’t understand why children would go to school just to be thrown in front of screens when all they are going to do is go home and sit in front of a television. (And we wonder why our society is fighting obesity.) The reality of the internet is it is a tool. With tools a person can use them the right way or the wrong way. In all cases we should best keep our children safe. However, I don’t believe we should hinder kids from the world we are living in just to make them ignorant, unable to relate, and later in life resent not knowing things. It is always best to keep in our heads the knowledge of how things are today but, we don’t leave the basis of learning just to accommodate to the world of education we are in now which is mostly computer based. I enjoyed reading your comment and loved the last statement. I do believe your class will be prepared for the next decades to come and in their careers. I am a student at the University of South Alabama in EDM 310 and once again thank you for the read!

By: Kristie Mcnair

Kristie Mcnair — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:52:39 +0000

Dr. Mcleod,
I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed the sarcasm of your post. What a sad world we will live in, if parents and teachers hold students back from learning about something just because we don’t fully understand it. Those students who are allowed to embrace the technology available to them will definitely have the advantage.

By: Greta

Greta — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:38:22 +0000

My name is Greta Miller, I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class. I enjoyed reading the pros and cons on technology. I think teachers need to teach students how to use computer effectively and safely.

By: Lindsey Gipson

Lindsey Gipson — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:52:24 +0000

Dr. Mcleod,
My name is Lindsey Gipson and I am a student at the University of South Alabama, in Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 class.
I enjoyed both your post and your creativity. I know that technology when used appropriately is an indispensable tool. We just have to teach our children how to use it safely. Unfortunately, there are predators out there searching for their next victim. As teachers and parents we have to be careful not to let this fear hinder our student’s learning.