Week 12

I read the article on the Technology Treadmill.I can relate. I’ve worked in the computer lab at school, and they do have to do minor maintenance. We do have to replace a few units each year.
It is frustrating to try to keep them all up to date. Like everything else, computers are now made to be disposable. Nothing really rates repair anymore. It is cheaper to just replace it.I can see the long-term financial benefit to the method used in this article. There would be added savings in man hours used for repairs and maintenance as well. Another benefit is not having to keep up with the ages of units, who is being updated, who will be next year, etc.I'm not sure I completely understand how their system works for the individual use, but it soundsvery promising.
To read the complete article, visit:http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/11/04/Jumping-Off-the-Technology-Treadmill.aspx?Page=1http://thejournal.com/Articles/2010/11/04/Jumping-Off-the-Technology-Treadmill.aspx?Page=1

Matthew Y’Barbo
mybarbo@leo.tamu-commerce.edu
ETEC 424



ABSTRACT NUMBER 1


CITATION:
Nagel, David (2008). Are Schools Reinforcing Technology Use Among Students?, www.thejournal.com, October 28, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.

SUMMARY:
This article addresses whether schools are adopting technology and encouraging its use among students for educational purposes. The study was commissioned by Cable in the Classroom, and educational foundation for the cable industry, which provides resources to teachers for 21st century skills and technology issues.

The study polled 1,436 K-12 teachers and librarian/media specialists, finding that 77% of them reported assigning homework with an Internet component.
It also showed that, at all levels, students are being engaged with digital media production. This study shows that teachers are employing technology tools into the mainstream classroom, and reinforcing positive use of technology outside of school.

PERSONAL REACTION:
In a world that is quickly becoming completely dependant on technology, students must have the opportunity to learn about and with technology tools, if they are to be successful in the future.

Educators are being forced to incorporate technology into their curriculum so that they can keep the students actively engaged in the learning process and provide the level of education students now expect. This study showed that teachers are embracing the opportunities they have to include technology in their teaching; the teachers also now have a responsibility to include it. It is the direction we are heading, like it or not. A curriculum that does not include technology opportunities will no longer be tolerated by students.

Digital production was a large focus of this article, even though it was written in 2008. At this date in late 2010, there are few students who are not familiar with some form of video-type technology. Even the youngest of students seem to know how to run a hand-sized video camera. With programs such as ‘You-tube’, blogging and ‘Facebook’, most any student can easily make a mini film with their cell phone, upload it and post to the internet.

I feel that technology is now as important and necessary a part of education as the old “Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic” and will continue to grow as the method to teach those subjects