Can we keep up?

Well, who would have thought that I would be so unproducitve during the university break. I wanted to read more, write more and certainly blog more.

Something I've wanted to blog about since Alec showed the video in class was a very interesting video about Web 2.0. You can watch the video here:



Now, I am someone who prides themself on being on the cutting edge of technology, but I have to admit that this video scared me. As an educator, how am I supposed to keep up with an internet that is so constantly changing and evolving? How can I teach my students internet safety when there is now so much to protect them from? What will happen when the new generation begins to be more comfortable with the new technology?

I know these are all questions educators before me have asked, it's an age old problem. I'm hoping my love for technology will help keep me on the cutting edge of the newest technology and even more than that, I hope I can figure out ways in which this technology will help improve the learning of my future students.

Exciting Grammy Moment

Tonight I took a break from the mountains of homework I have to do to watch the 49th annual Grammy Awards. Music is one of my biggest passions so I can never miss this awards show when it comes around. Tonight, however; I was especially intrigued because some unsigned singer would get the chance to sing a duet with Justin Timberlake. Over the Internet, various girls entered home-made tapes of themselves singing and the three finalists were chosen from hundreds of submissions.

Of course, this particular performance was not shown until the end of the show (way to make me wait for 2 hours!), but it was certainly worth the wait. The young artist named Robyn Troup was not only extremely talented, but also noticeably excited to be performing on music's biggest night.

It gets better! Not only did she get to perform tonight, but she also is getting a contract with JT's new record label! Talk about lucky!

So, you might wonder, what does all of this have to do with technology? Well, my point is, I think we are past the point in our society when some men in suits are deciding what the general public finds entertaining. Robyn was able to use basic technology to connect with one of musics biggest names and was voted on by the general public; who made their voice heard loud and clear through online voting and text messaging. Society is now taking responsibility for their own entertainment and I find this incredibly exciting. Without the use of technology, would this amazing moment have happened for a very deserving artist?

As an educator, I think our biggest responsibility in regards to this new trend is to teach our students to use their "power" in an educated way. They are going to have to make a lot of decisions based on what they do and do not want to see on TV/hear on the radio. As long as they use their good judgment when making these decisions, I think the future of entertainment is in good hands!

Trying to teach WITHOUT a computer...

For my ERDG class, I am tutoring a grade 2 student that has difficulty reading. I got to meet my student on Tuesday and after administering various tests I determined his reading level. Going from there, I had an idea of what I wanted to do with him tomorrow in our next session. When I went looking online for activities to do with my student, I found some amazing sites that had great interactive games that even dealt exactly with the concept I wanted to work with him on! Amazing, right?...umm...wrong. I don't have access to a computer during the tutoring time and therefore I somehow have to create these online activities in a pen/paper format. I'm not complaining, actually, quite the opposite. I suprised even myself at how dependant I am become on technology! I was actually stumped at how to teach without the use of interactive websites, and that scares me a bit. I read in Amanda L's blog that she wanted to go a whole day without using technology in her teaching, and I think that is something I might have to strive for. Balance is key, and I might be coming a bit too dependent on the good 'ol internet. I guess you know it's getting bad when a tech. junkie even scares herself!

....oh, btw, if anyone wants these fabulous websites I found, here are the links, just in case you ever get a chance to use them ;)

Interactive Classroom Games
Digraph Matching Game

Enjoy!

Well, I do like "Big Brother".....

I am happy to admit that I am a reality TV "junkie". I adore watching "real" people try to work out "real" problems in "real" settings. It's addicting in the most guilty way. However, I never expected I would one day be the star of my very own reality show!

Let me explain, in the Leader Post today, the front page article was about surveillance cameras that have been recently exposed in both Regina Public and Regina Separate schools. Here is the article:
"We are being watched"

Now, as a University student, this surprised me. I never thought that I was being watched. I am sitting in my ECMP class right now and I can see a camera now that I look for it. I don't know if it's right that we as students would have had no idea that we were being videotaped if the system hadn't been exposed.

However, coming from a slightly "inner-city" high-school, the whole idea of video surveillance is not new to me. When we walked into the office it was a fact of life that we would see 4 TVs with rotating video feeds monitoring the school.

I think these means of crime prevention are extremely effective; people are even using webcams in order to monitor their homes. But, how far are we willing to go in order to feel safe. Are we will to give up not only our privacy, but also the privacy of our students? What do you think?