Re: tkt8763-01: Failure to Connect

[Marilyn Dossett Bowen <mdb7@ra.msstate.edu>]

OK...let's hear from the old lady....

Children are already exposed to technology...the days of considering IF
children will be 'technologized' have passed.  I am becoming more
convinced we have to take an active role in children's technology training
to ensure we CAN direct them in the most positve, secure learning
environment possible.

It is so encouraging to hear young women want to protect our children, for
the realization of 'what's out there' is creeping ever closer to our
babies.

That is my 'soapbox' of the necessity of Teacher Training.  Again, we have
to take a step away from training the 'how to turn it on' and begin with
motivating teachers to the planning of "how to turn them on' to
technologies' benefits.

TEACHERS may well be the cog in the "Technology Plan." wheel.  Children
are going to be exposed to technology.  Probably before they enter school.
We have to be ready to evaluate where they are and have a positive  
direction mapped out to navigate their learning experiences with
technology.

                              * * * * * * *                

        Marilyn D. Bowen B.S.,M.S.          MDB7@Ra.MsState.edu
      Graduate Assistant    Department of Technology and Education
                        Mississippi State University                        

                              * * * * * * *
           

On Thu, 28 Jan 1999, Jennifer L. Blount wrote:

> Y'all might kick me out of the class after this one!  My brain just got
> caught in an undertow.
> 
> Aimee, I think you asked a very important question:  "Will students learn
> and grow from technology if they are exposed to it in a proper way and at a
> proper age?"  I have not read the book, so I'm not necessarily defending the
> premise of the book, but furthering the thoughts spurred on by Deedie...just
> play "devil's advocate" for a few minutes!  It's always good to reeeeeeeally
> dig into something when you have people who will throw things right back at
> you.  (:  Technology in and of itself is not a wonderful thing.  Why would
> it be needed if there were not people to use it for their own benefit?  On
> that basis, it would seem important to at least propose a question about the
> pros and cons of children and technology.  The first part of exposing
> children to it in a proper way at a proper age is making sure that
> adults/teachers understand what is being said and done in technology.
> 
> An exciting day is a day of new discovery.  We are in the midst of that
> EVERY day with technology.  We cannot forget, though, that we now have a
> rapidly growing medium for information exchange, and it is important to
> understand the information that is being exchanged.  Think about the
> messages that we get on television.  Our brain can be easily affected by
> message that we don't know are affecting our brain, so we have to make sure
> that technology doesn't have an emotional effect on kids...just as we should
> be careful of what kids learn from TV.  Too much of it may make them little
> zombies.  (:
> 
> I heard on Paul Harvey or PRM the other day that the line between movies,
> TV, commercials, computers is so blurred right now that we almost don't know
> how to deal with it.  A Hollywood director proposed that movie stars are a
> dying breed, because soon ONE person will be able to create a cast, direct,
> costume, film, edit, produce, sell a film by computer.  We have to be
> careful that our world does not slowly get shoved into a 17 inch monitor.  H
> as anyone else noticed this?  Life's experiences are being replaced
> sometimes by simulations on the internet.  People meet people in "chat
> rooms," visit countries and museums by "virtual tours."
> 
> My closing point is that we do need to understand WHAT we are teaching
> children in school and its effects...not only how to use certain things.
> It's great for a child to create things using computer programs, but you
> can't hang a computer screen on a Christmas tree, you know?
> 
> Like I said, just playing devil's advocate.
> 
> Jen
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Deedie Pearson <jjolly3@hotmail.com>
> To: tkt8763-01@ra.msstate.edu <tkt8763-01@ra.msstate.edu>
> Date: Thursday, January 28, 1999 9:14 AM
> Subject: tkt8763-01: Failure to Connect
> 
> 
> >I would love to read Aimee's book, "Failure to Connect." Aimee, could
> >you send me the info with the author and the ISBN number?
> >
> >I am always open to new information but I have to be honest, this
> >concept sounds like "garbage" to me. That is why I am so interested in
> >reading the book.
> >
> >I would also suggest that you read "Growing Up Digital" by Don Tapscott
> >before beginning a class discussion on this topic. If you should decide
> >to discuss this in class I would love to join in.
> >
> >I have very strong opinions concerning the worth of technology in the
> >classroom, especially at a young age. I want start now because I would
> >probably talk longer than Dr. A does.
> >
> >Did I mention that we often stayed to 10:00 in ASIP, and even then HE
> >sometimes through us out?
> >
> >Deedie
> >"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself." -Chinese
> >Proverb
> >
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