Communication 10
Introduction
This artifact is a discussion post from my implementation of educational technologies programs course. We were tasked with reading a chapter of our textbook given to us by the professor and then answering the following series of questions from the article.
Discussion 5.1
Connect - how are the ideas and information presented in this article connected to what's presented in Cuban's last chapter?
Cuban and the article this week mention that computer literacy standards are in place, which has evolved tremendously through the years. As Robler, 2000 stated on page 490 of the article, although several states provide computer literacy guidelines for various grade levels, students are not required to meet these standards to graduate. In addition, per Cuban, location 1612, although there have been many shifts in the meaning of computer literacy since the 1980s, the hope of securing a comprehensive agreement on a common definition for computer literacy among academia appears slim.
Extend - what new ideas did you get from this article that extended or broadened your thinking in new directions?
As the (No Child Left Behind Act, Title II, Part D, §2402) takes effect and technology standards are being implemented throughout the nation, measures related to technology integration become crucial. Simply put, technology is here to stay and is being used in virtually every aspect of our lives, so it is vital for us to embrace technology, current technology applications, and those emerging technologies as we educate our youth today. This brings me as an educator to begin to be forward-thinking and creative as I continue to educate others using technology moving forward. Also, on that note, as we embrace and all learn new and emerging technologies, it won’t harm us to expose ourselves and our students to these newer technologies like artificial intelligence or assistive technologies, to name a few. Sometimes, it is better to have limited knowledge versus no knowledge as an introduction to any area or subject. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Challenge - what challenges or puzzles have come up in your mind from the ideas and information presented in the article?
Why don’t schools combine a seasoned faculty member with a technology specialist to collaborate on combining the curriculum of a given subject area/grade level with specified technology applications to enhance learning experiences? This would also help the technologist become better informed of the needs of the educators while assisting the faculty in creating a technology-enhanced curriculum. The faculty member would also learn from the technologist in optimally using the specified software application being used to enhance curriculum-based learning experiences by the students. Just a thought.
Reflection
This exercise was an essential experience and activity to complete. For the connection, it is crucial to understand that computer literacy will continue to evolve as technology does. Connecting with current standards is not the end as we continue to stretch our learning muscles as they relate to computer literacy and academia. Extending, there will continue to be an evolution of technology as we continue to learn more about the advances in technological areas that we work, learn, and live in daily. Finally, the challenges ahead become continuing to provide resources, tools, and training for educators who are charged with keeping up with technological advances every day to educate our young learners then today and prepare them for tomorrow's technologies.