Chapter 7 Discussion

There is no question that technology has become a major part of day to day life. It has branched into almost every profession, and that includes teaching. The question of how far should teachers go to close the gap between technology in the classroom and technology used by the students is a difficult question to answer clearly. I think that we as future teachers should try to stay up to date with current technology, but trying to always being using the new tools every time one is available might be a little naive. That would be impossible because of how often the technology is changing. What I would suggest is to use programs that will give teachers at least 4 or 5 years to use them before changing. Find ways to integrate these great tools that are available whenever it can be of good use.

Online chats and instant messaging can be useful in the classroom. Although there is not a lot of different ways it could be useful, I can think of a few. One way it can be used would be for test taking. Another could be used as a simple measure of the understanding of the material the students are learning. Can be a great way for teachers to check for understanding. Online chats are "in" the classroom kinda takes away from developing social skills, but can be great for outside of classroom.

There are many advantages to both asynchronous as well as synchronous communication when it comes to learning. First lets look at face-to-face, or synchronous communication and how it can enhance learning. Advantages to this type include the presence of communication cues such as body language, tone of voice, accents, pace, pauses, and dialects. Another advantage is that students can receive instant feedback on questions and discussions. This is the ideal type of communication that is more suited for "in class" instruction. Asynchronous communication has its advantages as well. One advantage would be the freedom a student feels when they have the opportunity to express their opinions without interruption. It gives them a forum in which they can have a voice. Also, when involved in a on-line discussion it forces students to get involved therefore learning is enhanced.

Do podcast really enhance learning? Of course, it can be very helpful in learning. To depend on strictly a podcast to learn might be challenging, but it can be used as a strong reinforcement of material. If it is used in addition to in class lectures as well as power points, it is great to have a podcast to reemphasize information.

I agree with the article in that video gaming can enhance learning. Although I don't feel as strongly as the author, it can be a great tool that can be used sparingly. The article states that gaming allows students to learn by doing and being, through performance. I can see how this argument may be true. Personally, I wouldn't want to use games in my classroom very much because it would probably become a distraction, and may take away from the other part of the classroom learning. I would not let my children play video games everyday. I am a strong believer in exercise and activity. This is one reason our society has become increasingly more obese in the last 20 years.