Even Sesame Street is on the Mobile Technology bandwagon!
A Vision of K-12 Students Today by bjnesbitt
I'm not so sure that there is an app for everything! An easy fix to every human problem is not to conveniently access some technology or other and all will be well with the world! Life is way more complex than that due to the simple fact that human beings are involved! If the 'fix' does not consider the human factor at many interrelated and complex levels, and/or the multiple ways humans interact with objects in their world, then a positive outcome or solution cannot be a guaranteed thing! (Vicente, and Norman)
Viewing the video A Vision of K-12 Students Today by bjnesbitt above, I was struck by the deliberate attempt to make sure no child cracked a smile, sending the message that current education is 'Boring' and 'Soul Destroying,' unless you could access the Web, use mobile technologies and the like. Since when in our history has a successful education only been as a result of using the current or newest technologies available? This, I fear, is advocating gadgetry, not sound educational practice, with or without technology. This is far too simplistic a solution to promote as the answer to all educational challenges. This video is one in a whole series of very similar productions that emphasize the separation of the 'mechanical' and the 'humanistic' approach to the world. In contrast, Vicente advocates "The Human-tech Revolution" where "people's needs will have to be put ahead of technology for its own sake" (pp. 290-292). Indeed, certain uses of technological innovations may have a very positive effect on particular teaching and learning contexts. However, I highly doubt that teaching and learning opportunities are of lesser quality, motivation, creativity, value, etc,. unless supported with some modern technological item. Have human beings changed that much? I have seen no proof, so far, that our youth are somehow designed differently due to the availability of modern technology.
Interestingly, in the same and similar videos, the participants hold up signs that are hand written on something. Is this meant to signify that the act of writing is also passé, or that we have silenced the voices of youth, or that, if given access to more current technology the writing of the message would be improved in some way? I would like to see or hear some explanation around these media choices.
But then I suspect, There's An App For That!
Viewing the video A Vision of K-12 Students Today by bjnesbitt above, I was struck by the deliberate attempt to make sure no child cracked a smile, sending the message that current education is 'Boring' and 'Soul Destroying,' unless you could access the Web, use mobile technologies and the like. Since when in our history has a successful education only been as a result of using the current or newest technologies available? This, I fear, is advocating gadgetry, not sound educational practice, with or without technology. This is far too simplistic a solution to promote as the answer to all educational challenges. This video is one in a whole series of very similar productions that emphasize the separation of the 'mechanical' and the 'humanistic' approach to the world. In contrast, Vicente advocates "The Human-tech Revolution" where "people's needs will have to be put ahead of technology for its own sake" (pp. 290-292). Indeed, certain uses of technological innovations may have a very positive effect on particular teaching and learning contexts. However, I highly doubt that teaching and learning opportunities are of lesser quality, motivation, creativity, value, etc,. unless supported with some modern technological item. Have human beings changed that much? I have seen no proof, so far, that our youth are somehow designed differently due to the availability of modern technology.
Interestingly, in the same and similar videos, the participants hold up signs that are hand written on something. Is this meant to signify that the act of writing is also passé, or that we have silenced the voices of youth, or that, if given access to more current technology the writing of the message would be improved in some way? I would like to see or hear some explanation around these media choices.
But then I suspect, There's An App For That!
