Week 1: Question 1
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edwige...@gmail.com
Jan 15, 2009, 12:15:52 PM1/15/09
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I posted 5 questions total. Please answer at least three questions.
Of course, if you want to answer all 5, you’re more than welcome!
Please, write one or two paragraphs for each answer, depending on how
inspired (or uninspired) you are!
According to Garrisson and Anderson, “education is largely unchanged
by communication technology that has transformed society in many other
ways.” (p1).
Do you agree with this statement? Has communication technology
influenced the way you teach in the past few years?
Of course, if you want to answer all 5, you’re more than welcome!
Please, write one or two paragraphs for each answer, depending on how
inspired (or uninspired) you are!
According to Garrisson and Anderson, “education is largely unchanged
by communication technology that has transformed society in many other
ways.” (p1).
Do you agree with this statement? Has communication technology
influenced the way you teach in the past few years?
Helen Chen
Jan 19, 2009, 4:43:09 PM1/19/09
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I would agree with statement, as we are probably not yet reaching the
level of, for example, using more than 90% of this communication
technology in our education. On the other hand, I also agree what
they say in the article that we are experiencing “the gradual
development phase” of this technology. By comparing courses I’ve
taught or TA-ed five years ago with the ones I’ve taught/TA-ed for the
last two semesters, I would probably say I have experienced this
gradual trend of incorporating more and more technology in the
teaching. One example for this is from the course I TA-ed last
semester: during one of the lectures, the professor “skyped in” with
an author of the assigned reading. That was almost like having a
guest lecturer in the class, but then the person didn’t have to be
physically present in the lecture hall. And I wouldn’t think this was
possible or none of the teachers would have thought about having a
guest lecturer in this way (at least not in those courses I TA-ed or
taught five years ago!) So I would agree there is this gradual trend
of using technology in teaching, but we are “yet to experience its
explosive impact,” as they say in the reading.
level of, for example, using more than 90% of this communication
technology in our education. On the other hand, I also agree what
they say in the article that we are experiencing “the gradual
development phase” of this technology. By comparing courses I’ve
taught or TA-ed five years ago with the ones I’ve taught/TA-ed for the
last two semesters, I would probably say I have experienced this
gradual trend of incorporating more and more technology in the
teaching. One example for this is from the course I TA-ed last
semester: during one of the lectures, the professor “skyped in” with
an author of the assigned reading. That was almost like having a
guest lecturer in the class, but then the person didn’t have to be
physically present in the lecture hall. And I wouldn’t think this was
possible or none of the teachers would have thought about having a
guest lecturer in this way (at least not in those courses I TA-ed or
taught five years ago!) So I would agree there is this gradual trend
of using technology in teaching, but we are “yet to experience its
explosive impact,” as they say in the reading.
Maggie McCullar
Jan 19, 2009, 5:10:46 PM1/19/09
to ATLAS 7800
I have to agree with Helen here and say that technology has influenced
the way I teach (and have been taught) in the past few years, but the
impact on learning as a whole has not been gargantuan. Society has
been transformed in an explosive way, but I don't think that our
educational institutions are that far behind. The transformation is
coming, though--and is visibly evident. How many jobs have I seen
posted on the MLA job search list that call for technology or even
entire positions dedicated to being the director of the language
center?
As technology becomes more affordable, schools are able to place this
technology in the hands of teachers and students. And with that
increase, so does the possibility for expanding the way in which we
think about communication through technology. I loved Helen's mention
about Skype in the classroom. That IS a major transformation. Instead
of a one-way empirical use of technology (i.e. showing a you tube clip
or reading an online newspaper article), we are now seeing more
avenues for making true two-way or multi-way connections (skype,
voicethread, chats, etc.).
the way I teach (and have been taught) in the past few years, but the
impact on learning as a whole has not been gargantuan. Society has
been transformed in an explosive way, but I don't think that our
educational institutions are that far behind. The transformation is
coming, though--and is visibly evident. How many jobs have I seen
posted on the MLA job search list that call for technology or even
entire positions dedicated to being the director of the language
center?
As technology becomes more affordable, schools are able to place this
technology in the hands of teachers and students. And with that
increase, so does the possibility for expanding the way in which we
think about communication through technology. I loved Helen's mention
about Skype in the classroom. That IS a major transformation. Instead
of a one-way empirical use of technology (i.e. showing a you tube clip
or reading an online newspaper article), we are now seeing more
avenues for making true two-way or multi-way connections (skype,
voicethread, chats, etc.).
Petra
Jan 19, 2009, 5:49:12 PM1/19/09
to ATLAS 7800
I also agree that technology is slowly changing our teaching world. I
believe that showing our students that we are capable of using some of
the technology which they are familiar with is important so that they
can see that foreign languages and the learning thereof can be part of
a modern learning experience. Unfortunately, my department does only
have a few professors who are invested in technology and I have so far
been rather discouraged to use it. That is changing though, and I
think that my students enjoy the discussion of how technology is used
in the culture that they are studying as well. Therefore, the
cultural transformation which technology has achieved should become
part of our curriculum.
believe that showing our students that we are capable of using some of
the technology which they are familiar with is important so that they
can see that foreign languages and the learning thereof can be part of
a modern learning experience. Unfortunately, my department does only
have a few professors who are invested in technology and I have so far
been rather discouraged to use it. That is changing though, and I
think that my students enjoy the discussion of how technology is used
in the culture that they are studying as well. Therefore, the
cultural transformation which technology has achieved should become
part of our curriculum.
Edwige Simon
Jan 20, 2009, 10:57:06 AM1/20/09
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Why do you think your department is reluctant to use technology. And more generally, why do you think technology triggers resistance in some academic circles? I'm answering Petra's post but I am really asking everybody!
edwige...@gmail.com
Jan 20, 2009, 2:26:58 PM1/20/09
to ATLAS 7800
I like the idea of using free video conferencing technology to bring
speakers to our classes. We rarely get funding to invite speakers and
this is one way that technology can allow us to do something that
wouldn't be feasible otherwise. By the way, I don't fully agree with
the author's idea that higher education hasn't embraced new
technologies. Of course, I can only speak from a foreign language
instruction standpoint. But I think we are heavy users of technology
compared to other disciplines in the humanities.
speakers to our classes. We rarely get funding to invite speakers and
this is one way that technology can allow us to do something that
wouldn't be feasible otherwise. By the way, I don't fully agree with
the author's idea that higher education hasn't embraced new
technologies. Of course, I can only speak from a foreign language
instruction standpoint. But I think we are heavy users of technology
compared to other disciplines in the humanities.
Yoshie
Jan 21, 2009, 2:06:21 AM1/21/09
to ATLAS 7800
Budget problem? Some professors are anti-technology or they believe
they are not good with technology? Some may associate technology with
"popular culture" which is looked down in many areas of studies?
Teachers simply don't know when and where they can incorporate
technology?
they are not good with technology? Some may associate technology with
"popular culture" which is looked down in many areas of studies?
Teachers simply don't know when and where they can incorporate
technology?
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