For this chapter, I found something interesting immediately: The Pew Internet and American Life Project's grouping of technology users. There are nine categories and everyone that uses technology fits one! I would classify myself as a Media Mover, which is a person who uses online and mobile devices regularly as a way to connect with other people socially. My father, on the other hand, would be a Roving Node, someone who uses media for work purposes and to gather information. Though many of us can fit slightly in multiple categories, I think this is a pretty interesting categorization process. The book says to take a quiz called "What Kind of Tech User Are You?" from the Pew Internet and American Life Project's website but I was unable to find it. I did find a similar quiz, however, and I am considered a slightly addicted tech user.
Take the quiz here!
Moving right along, I was drawn to the section about barriers to technology use. Before I read the section, I thought about what that could mean. All that could come to mind was insufficient funds, but discovered later on that there were many reasons. Having a computer in a classroom seems ordinary, but while some public schools may have the latest and greatest, others have out of date technology. Many resources aren't compatible with older models of printers, computers, overheads, DVD players, et cetera. Other obstacles include teaching schedules where some teachers have over an hour to instruct and can play with many different technologies as opposed to those with thirty minute classes that never have time to get to any interactive learning. Also, some teachers are not as comfortable with new technology and opt out of it.
I noticed that this book considers students to be far more advanced with technology than teachers. On page 39, the book lists many different technologies ranging from email to calculators, smart phones to mp3 players. I think it is weird that the book is basically saying we are not fluent with technology and cannot operate without a user manual. Maybe that is why this class is so important, so that we can flee from the mold of being stuffy teachers that can't have fun or keep up.
References:
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.
What Kind of Tech User Are You? (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2016, from https://uquiz.com/ZPze5h?embed=False
PowToon - Brings Awesomeness to your presentations. Retrieved September 11, 2016, from https://www.powtoon.com/home/
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