Week 7- video games, technology, podcasts, etc...

Wow, at the beginning of Chapter 7, it lists all the ways Melissa, a typical teenager, is using technology in a 5 minute span. I cannot imagine keeping up with all this without my head spinning. I can multi-task fairly well, but not like that. This demonstrates how advanced our younger generations are. I don't think its quite possible for teachers to go to this extent and be able to match all the technology kids are using. I think blogs are a great way of incorporating technology into the classroom and also in class chat rooms when working on a group project, but that's as far as I would consider teachers going with social technology. I feel that anything more would be distracting and students would take advantage.

I think online chats in the classroom can be both helpful and harmful. They can be helpful in the way of increasing communication and allowing easy collaboration. It encourages all the students to share their ideas and they can do it without having to speak aloud. I do view that it could be harmful if it wasn't regulated. If students got off topic or were distracted from the teachings of the class, this could be harmful to the learning environment.

Yes there are benefits to asynchronous, text-based communication over synchronous, face to face communication. The book list 3 important advantages of text-based communication. The first being, computer conferencing can support discussions, debates, and collaborative efforts among groups of people who are at a distance. They do not have to be in the same place to converse and learn. A second advantage is that computer conferencing enables learners to reflect on their ideas or responses before making them. Thinking about what you are going to say before you say it is fostered by computer conferences. Third is different kinds of thinking can be scaffolded in computer conferences. Computer conferences can guide and scaffold students as they make comments, reminding them of needed support and development, and archiving past conversations for future use.

Podcasts can enhance student learning. By making audios or videos available for view at the student's convenience makes a big difference. Subscribing to a category can also be a great way to collect useful information about a topic. You don't even have to search, the information comes to you. You can also store it on your ipod, iphone, computer, etc. This makes it easily accessible to you, even if the internet is unavailable. I think podcasts are a great way to deliver important information.

I think videogames can help improve your studying. By using a game to practice your skills, you are incorporating competitiveness and are going to be driven to get the answers right. Playing a game also makes studying more fun. I find that using trivia to study helps me a lot. I remember what I got wrong and I'm sure to not get it wrong .again. Videogames can mix up the concepts so you have to know the information well to be able to get the answer right.

You can gain studying skills from video games. It's helpful in figuring out how you learn information best and in which order your mind works. When I have children, I will certainly let them play videogames, however, they will probably not be part of their everyday routine, unless, they are based on their current curriculum. Playing for fun is always good and increases their technology skills, but I think kids need other interactions in their routines as well.