"Increasingly, in the public debate on youth and popular culture, media have become the defining factor dividing generations."
While I see the reasoning behind this statement, I tend to disagree with the quote as a whole. I see how digital media can separate generations and make the 'generation gap' larger. At the same time, I see it as a way to bring generations together. This week I have a date with my grandma to help teach her how to clean off her iPad onto her computer so she can use it to take pictures again. I am also an assistant student council advisor at my school and this year we are organizing for students to help the elderly in our community learn technology. Whether the technology is a phone, tablet, iPod, television, students will either be able to help or can try to figure it out together with the owner.
Chapter 8:
"...how the Internet and the many digital tools available on the Web have affected the way students seek and gather information in the context of higher education."
I definitely agree with this statement. I am guilty of searching for the quick fix at times when I am in a hurry to get an assignment done. I think that better instruction on how to use the internet for academic purposes can help curb this problem, as well as better informing students on the amount of incorrect information that can be found on the internet.
Chapter 9:
"In addition, he implies that adults should improve their listening in relation to young people. There is a requirement for an audience and the belief that one's opinions are being heard (Rheingold, 2008)."
I strongly agree with the excerpt that I included from Chapter 9. Without showing students that we are interested in their thoughts and opinions, we are immediately shutting off their thinking process and diminishing any further growth in that area. I think it is crucial for us as educators to make sure that the conversation in the classroom is a two-way street, not just us presenting information without getting feedback, thought-provoking questions, and opinions from students.
The role of schooling in the development of young people's digital literacy is important. I think that schools as a whole need to educate students on the effects of the misuse of the internet from a social media standpoint as well as teach them how to research academically and demonstrate the easy access to incorrect information. By showing students how easy it can be to gain wrong information, it may help steer them in the direction of searching for academically accurate websites rather than finding the quick fix or "satisficing."
My meme that I created is reflecting the role of formal schooling in the development of a student's digital skills by demonstrating that everything that you find on the information is not factual, and it is a gamble to use the first site or quickest find.
This meme is great!! So true and very funny! It definitely ties into the reading about the "satisficing" attitude.
ReplyDeleteThe way that you explain your first quote really gives a good look at your point of view. I do think that technology has created a generation gap, but I also agree with you that it is helping to bring generations together. I help my parents with their phone/facebook/google a lot actually. In my slide presentation, I mentioned that we must "un-divide" to conquer technology!
I definitely am guilty of looking at the first page of Google only when I'm trying to find something online. And to be honesty, I've never heard of Google Scholar. So I need to change my research ways!
I love your meme. It is quite accurate of what the reading had to say this week. I remember in school that my instructors told me I couldn't use wikipedia as a source, and I didn't understand why. I now get it. Your quote from chapter nine I feel encompasses what the writer was trying to say. We all want to be heard. I also think you are correct about your views on schooling. I had mentioned the same thing that I feel that it is our responsibility to educate our students on correct internet usage.
ReplyDeleteYour Meme is so funny, and true. When I state something that my husband doesn’t agree with, he tells me to “Stay off Wikipedia.” I just laugh and roll my eyes, but a lot of students tend to rely on Wikipedia as a reference. I really liked your response to the quote you chose from chapter 7. I also agree and disagree with it. I don’t think technology is the defining factor dividing generations. There are other factors that divide generations (music, TV, clothing). I think it is wonderful that you are organizing a technology help day with the elderly in your community; bringing the generations together! Your response to the chapter 8 quote is exactly how I feel. We can’t expect students to just know how to search for scholarly articles without teaching them how. I couldn’t agree more with your response to the quote from chapter nine! When we do not listen to our students’ thought and opinions, we are shutting off their thinking process. I also agree that teachers should take some responsibility in teaching digital literacy.
ReplyDeleteYour comment, "I see how digital media can separate generations and make the 'generation gap' larger" is very true. I have found that the new tools and apps can even have a tendency to make me feel very "out of the loop" with my own kids. If I, and other digital immigrants, didn't intentionally pursue knowing more about digital tools, I know we would feel quickly alienated. That's really awesome that the student council is going to help older people with their technology. It's a two way street, and closing the gap definitely is easier when both sides take steps towards meeting in the middle!
ReplyDeleteI also liked your comment about how teaching is "...not just us presenting information without getting feedback, thought-provoking questions, and opinions from students." I always told my first period class they were my favorite class because they made me look smarter :) Every once in a while they would point things out, ask me questions, or show me mistakes I made in something I was saying or teaching them. They really challenged me! Sometimes it was a stupid mistake, sometimes something I didn't even know myself, and sometimes we figured it out together. They loved the fact that they found things like that, and that I listened to them (even thought it was embarrassing sometimes) so then I could say, do, and teach the CORRECT thing to the rest of the classes. So, I told them they made me look smarter.
I really liked the quote you chose from chapter 8. I am guilty of wanting the answers the quickest way. I think that I realized that when it came to doing my action based research when I had to use certain databases for the assignment. I found it harder than just going to google.
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