BP2_2009111_RSS_Feeds_Review

RSS Feeds Review

This is a situation where students were encouraged to show how tech savvy they are by using social media to attend the Inauguration of president Obama. The students had to compete for the 10 slots buy completing a several activities using social media assessments. The ones selected were to record and share their experience with all back at school using Flip cameras and iTalks (iPod recorders). They also had to post their interviews via YouTube and Podcast and embedded into a their blog. They took pictures with their cell phones and uploading them to Flickr as well as Twittering during the entire trip and used Skype to report back to the school. This article is a great demonstration of students owning their own learning and using their technology skills to teach, educate, and share useful and relevant information with the fellow classmates and the world. What a wonderful way to use social media and participate in a great moment in history!

This article explores the idea of availability of technology vs. use of technology. Surveys show that students determine which college they choose to attend based on the availability of technology on the campus. Even though they want and say this is the lure, the students only use icat and personal e-mail or social networking while on their computers. A very low percentage stated that they had ever used web-conferencing and most stated that even if they wanted to use the technology in their classes, they did not feel that their teachers were proficient at the technology. The universities state that there are instructional sessions provided for teachers to become proficient. So what is going on here? Just like the discussion board on Anit-Teaching, the question is, what makes a student’s learning more meaningful? This is a situation that demonstrates that more technology does not mean greater use or inspiration and meaning for the learner. This is something to think about both from the faculty and from the staff point of view and how to get both to become comfortable and interested in using these 21^st century tools in the classroom.

What are your thoughts?

Carvin.A: Learning.now. Students using social media to attend the Inauguration:http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2009/01/students_using_social_media_to.html

Carvin.A: Learning.now. Campus Technology and the Expectations Gamehttp://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2008/10/campus_technology_and_the_expe.html