Digital Badge #B

The cartoon above illustrates a good point to Chapter 2: Understanding Educational Technology and Trends. Johnny was using his device to record the lesson plan that the professor was conducting.  After assuming that Johnny was only playing with his phone, he realizes that Johnny was actually using his device for a greater purpose.  Like the book mentions, its safe to assume that the professor in this cartoon falls in to the category of people who lag behind any change.  Not only does he not think about reaching out to the kids in different ways, but he sticks to what he knows and conducts his lesson plan the old fashion way; through the chalkboard. This all leads up to the three topics that I want to further discuss about on Chapter 2.
The first topic I wanted to talk about was when the book mentioned how technology offers students diverse learning experiences.  At first, I didn't understand how that could be possible but it truly can motivate disengaged individuals.  All large amount of students can not learn through the traditional time-established educational routine where the students sit in rows, the teacher talks, and the students write.  As technology progresses and students ability to use technology enhances, the traditional system begins to feel like a sink or swim system.  Technology in the classroom can definitely help make communication with "all" students possible.
The other topic I wanted to elaborate on is how web 2.0 tools can definitely enhance the identity of being an all around close-to-perfect teacher.  As a teacher, they are constantly learning new things.  Constantly learning new things can become overwhelming and sometimes feel like things are not organized.  Learning these tools can be essential to a teacher.  It can help create and enhance the ongoing ideas and lesson plans that come with the daily routine of a teacher.  Like the web 2.0 tools that this course is exposing us too, they can seem intimidating at first, but they truly help you stay on top of things in this pro technology world.  Technology supports both the instructional and administrative/professional work of teaching.
The last topic I wanted to discuss on was how in every organization there are small number of innovators, a large majority of followers, and a small number who lag behind any change.  As mentioned before, the cartoon illustrates someone, the professor, that has not made a change to the technology world.  As a future teacher, I too must begin transitioning from what I am comfortable with and into the world that the young generation has grown to understand.  The book makes a great valid point; it is the tech-savvy students versus the tech-resistant teachers.  It may seem that I am over exaggerating on this topic, but a large amount of students are becoming more aware of how things work and function because of technology.  That only means that it is time for teachers to catch up and challenge the young minds in the areas that they are comfortable with.  This is easier said than done though.  Although using technology is a great way to reach out to students, teachers are still finding it difficult to take what they know about technology and incorporating it in a classroom.  


Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.