Session TWO

Dr. Newberry asked me how is it that technology has penetrated almost every aspect of most of our daily lives, but teachers still can't deal with technology? I believe ALOT of it has to do with need and want and have to. Most of us buy an ipod because we don't want to of carry around a CD player and CD's, but we want to listen to music. We do this to make listening to music easier and simplier. In the case with teachers, some teachers are happy correcting papers with their red pens and lugging it to and from school, but the case where the powers that be decide that paper is no more and grades need to be electronic and not on paper, then that throws teachers in a 180 and they find out they have to learn a new way to grade. It sounds simple, but with all that teachers need to do now a days and now they are given a task of learning how to enter electronic data into a computer, which they use to have no trouble with when it was paper and pen. When they do try to learn by going to a training, it is usually someone who has a background in computers standing in the front of the room with a computer showing the teachers how to enter the data into the system. I don't know about anyone else, but when I learn something I am going to need to do in the future I like to actually do it with the help there to assist, not someone showing me.

Well I don't quite understand what we are suppose to do on this weeks blog and I can't open my e-mail from blackboard so I am going to wing it. I have tried to figure out what I exactly want to do for my project for this class and I kind of like to work on a podcast debate/discussion for the project, but I want to see if anyone from the class would like to work together on the project.

The subject I am thinking about is the pros and cons of media Classrooms, like on-line classes and media based learning. Is technology a good thing or a bad thing for students? If you have the same idea or thinking this might be something you want to work on, then please e-mail me at:

william.myers@sbcusd.com (Down on Sunday and don't know for how long)

Also you can e-mail me at:

bigbilltech1983@gmail.com


What I did?

6/29- My only week off of work. Kind of.....
7/01- Listened to podcast. Looked for articles and e-mailed Dr. Newberry about the project.
7/05- Blogged and asked for anyone who would like to work together on the project!

Session ONE

Assignment- Your first post should introduce yourself to the rest of the class and discuss your experiences with mobile devices and even the Apple II if you remember it. Be sure to address why we don't seem to be as excited about mobile technology for learning as we were about the first microcomputers.

My name is Bill Myers and I am 26 years old working as a Computer Technician for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. I have been working with the district for the past four years, first as a substitute teacher, then as a math tutor, and then this job. I also went through school in this district from kindergarten through 12th grade, so I have seen how technology in this particular school district has changed from the late 80's to the present. I remember how excited I use to get to get to play Oregon Trail on the computer. I was lucky enough that I even had one at home that was for my sister who was in high school at the time going into college. I remember taking all my essays home so I could type them up and turn them in all neat on clean white paper, instead of handwriting the whole thing in cursive. Not to mention all the new games they had available on the computer. Amazing thing is the fact I still peck when I type and I've never learned how to properly type with all my fingers. That was one thing that I never learned in school, even though it was expected that you typed up your research papers to put up on the bulletin board. I also remember printing out banners for celebrations and posters to hang. The pixels use to be bigger then the size 12 font now in Microsoft word or Appleworks.

I think the reason why we are not as excited about mobile technology as we were about the first computers becuase for three major reasons. One is because the mobile devices have more capabilites then the first computers did. For example, you were able to type your papers instead of using a typewritter, you can save your papers to look at later, and you were able to play games on them, some you can learn from, such as Orgeon Trail. Now the mobile technology can do all that and more. Some can access the internet, and that brings me to the next reason why we are not as excited as we should be. The internet has alot of things that are inappropriate and this gives them a way to access the material that they shouldn't. Of course districts do a good job of blocking most of this type of material, but nothing is perfect and there are ways around it. And this brings me to my final reason that many teachers, administrators, and staff do not trust students to use the technology appropriately. This is due to the fact that kids are curious and they love to play with the technology and find ways around the rules. This is not all students, but there are enough to hold the excitement to use these devices in the learning process.

Now not all mobile devices can go on the internet, but I still see them not being used properly. One device that comes to mind is a student hand held response device where a teacher can send out a test to the students' devices where they can take the test and the teacher gets immediate results and feedback from the students about a lesson that they just listened to. The students get involved and the teacher gets data back without having to correct it themselves. Now your probably wondering why isn't this technology being used more? Well I have one teacher using this technology and seventeen other teachers not. The reason I see is because all the other teachers are afraid and fustrated with technology because they don't understand it. Some of the blame could be on the fact that some teachers aren't confident in using technology and some blame could go on the fact that alot of these techers haven't been properly trained to use this technology in their classrooms as a learning device. Some techers see it as a waste and still like the old way of paper and pen because they are comfortable with that technique.

This is why I think we are not as excited about the mobile devices as we should be. Me on the other hand love new technology and I always get excited when my school recieves new technology to implement in the classrooms.

What I did?
6/24- Signed up for this class
6/28- After having no internet all weekend, I finally fixed the problem and listened to the podcast and posted my blog
6/28- E-mail Dr. Newberry about the project and to give him my blog URL