The
focus of the video was on instructional television and its
advantages. There was little discussion about the way it can enhance
an English classroom, but very focused on the Mathematics and Science
content areas. Since it is well known that the United States values
a Math and Science curriculum, it seems that an English content area
teacher is left to figure out technological tools in the classroom by
themselves.
The technology I would pick would be the television.
Since it's inception into the home it has been a source of
information. Different means of information have been introduced
into classrooms since the construction of common schools. Pamphlets,
flyers, posters, and so forth were the starting point. Then came the
introduction of the television into the classroom (Domine 31-32).
This introduction of the television changed the ways in which
information was relayed to students. Moving images, words and the
ability to see beyond the classroom are some of the capabilities the
television has to offer. That is the pipe dream of the TV in the
classroom. Unfortunately, like many other great ideas, when used
improperly they can get a bad reputation. Television use inside of
the classroom has been linked with capitalistic consumerism.
Supporters of the protectionist perspective see technology in schools
as a proponent for media to bias the students (Domine 36-37). An
example of the feared media infiltration and propaganda in schools
would be the Channel One news program. “Protestors of Channel One
argued that the two minutes of commercial advertising violated
students' civil rights. Educator and activist Jonathan Kozol called
Channel One nothing more than a corporate rain on education”
(Domine 38).
This technological advancement seems to have had the
biggest impact on my content area. The television was the start of
all of the other technologies in a classroom. As a future English
teacher, the computer seems to be a good way to reinforce certain
materials like watching a play that we are reading in class on TV or
gaining relevant contemporary information through TV channels. The
argument that television is a proponent of propaganda can actually be
helpful in an English class. While yes, advertising that targets
students is not the best way to utilize technology, it can be helpful
to teach different English lessons. The suggestion of teaching
students how to decode these media messages would correlate well in
an English classroom and could be incorporated well into lessons.
This image is appropriate because in a classroom technology can be very overwhelming. This can be the case if the teacher is not adequately prepared or able to make technology a seamless part of the everyday classroom curriculum.
WORKS CITED
Domine, Vanessa Elaine. Rethinking technology in schools primer. New York: Peter Lang, 2009. Print.
Shelby, after reading your post I realized that the television is also another great technology that I can use in my content area which is Italian. I can show films in Italian that can help students learn about the Italian culture as well as listen to others speak the language. Also, I find it interesting how just like you and me, many others believe that the use of a computer in a classroom is very beneficial. Even though it can play a negative role, ultimately its use leans more towards a positive role if used correctly in a classroom.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo!! It is so true!! Kids forget about books! I have always loved to read. Now-a-days I meet kids who barely ever read and it makes me sad. Books have the magical ability to transport us to another world. I understand that movies, video games, other media can do this as well but nothing replaces a good book.:)
ReplyDeleteShelby,
ReplyDeleteAs a future English teacher myself, I fully agree with what you have stated here. I do believe that televisions play a large role in the classroom. But they also play a big role outside of the classroom, particularly in the area of English. I know that growing up, I watched a ton of educational shows, such as Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street, both of which had educational purposes through letters and words and segments of the shows. That has followed us through the years, and now we watch movies that are related to readings that we do in the classroom. All throughout high school, I read a play or a book then watched the movie to reiterate the themes and to put it in laymen terms for the students who maybe didn't understand the Shakespearean language or didn't understand fully Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." Even stepping away from English, I believe that movies and other forms of media are helpful in other subjects. Documentaries for history and videos for science classes, for instance, are great ways to help students better understand the concepts being discussed. Also, your picture is a perfect description of how students are being pulled in all different directions that involve technology, sometimes those directions being overwhelming. I've always been an advocate for books over eReaders and eBooks, but I'm afraid that my love for books isn't going to save them from being overtaken by technology. Technology is good and helpful, but sometimes, I think, it's better to be able to take a step back and remove yourself from that.
I think my favorite line within your post is "his introduction of the television changed the ways in which information was relayed to students. Moving images, words and the ability to see beyond the classroom are some of the capabilities the television has to offer. That is the pipe dream of the TV in the classroom." I completely agree with you. Without the implementation of the television, students wouldn't be able to receive a thorough and efficient education because they wouldn't be able to conceptualize ideas in a different way.I think that the use of the television in the classroom helped to change the way that teachers educated their students in every subject area.
ReplyDeleteShelby,
ReplyDeleteGreat minds think alike, or in this case choose the same technologies! I agree completely with your statements above in that the televisions revolutionized classrooms. Television i general presents both a pro and con to the technology addition to a classroom. It presents such a warped vision of what we are trying to teach to students but also allows them to learn from a different dynamic than just from words on a page. I think we have our work cut out for us in regards to this technology because we will be fighting students to learn from an ACTUAL text whereas they will try to sneak in easy representations of narratives into their comprehension from the internet via CliffNotes, SparkNotes, and other sites that abridge the text heavily for them. These are influential aids but cannot be the basis for students knowledge regarding a text being read or discussed in classes.
Your graphic is also amazing. It provides me so much insight into a students' educational perspective. I love how the TV is somewhat berating the student for reading. It is truly comical. I also enjoy the fact that all the technologies are labeled and the book is as well. HA! Excellent post :)
Shelby, interesting photo. Can you help me understand what your technology is and how it relates to schooling?
ReplyDeleteShelby,
ReplyDeleteI love this image because I feel that it accurately describes the current state of technology and education. There are so many forms of technology available to educators and students but oftentimes they are not effectively incorporated within the classroom setting. I feel that your cartoon emphasizes the need for technology to be a part of the classroom so that it can serve to assist student learning and understanding rather than distract students. How would you ensure that technology would be properly incorporated within your classroom to make it a "seamless part of the classroom curriculum"?