Chapter 4: Technology for Diverse Learners
When technology is used to support culturally and linguistically diverse students, it is often remedial. Some students find themselves using technology that has been designed for younger learners simply because the vocabulary level matches their current language acquisition. This type of remediation via technology can be frustrating to use. Imagine yourself living in another country, trying to learn its language, and being asked to learn via remedial software. What concerns would you have about this instructional approach? What other options might be found to avoid remediation when it is instructionally unnecessary?
Firstly, my concern would be that I would immediately begin to experience disinterest in the material being presented to me because the technology is not consistent with my learning ability. The difficulties I'm experiencing are due to my gathered knowledge of the culture I'm learning, not my ability to learn. Like the book states, at that point, it is simply the language that impedes my instruction. Using remedial software would not only impeded the learning process, it might also become humiliating and insulting in the long-run.
As suggested by the book, technology-mediated time spent in simulated language experience could hasten the learning process. Immersion like this can help me learn not only the language, but the culture as well and ensure that I do it quickly.
C5.Q2:
Discuss the cloud storage. Why is it advantageous for educators to share resources and programs on a network? What concerns are associated with program sharing?
Cloud storage is awesome! It provides the users with the ability to store information on a network and access it from virtually any computer in the world. This is advantageous to the teacher because of it's remote access capabilities and the fact it doesn't require any portable storage device. It can also allow the teacher with the ability to only allow certain files to be viewed, while others remain hidden until otherwise.
One of the main concerns with cloud sharing is that the information is only available when there is internet connection. I can't tell you how many times that put a damper on my instruction, since we use laptops in my class. Also, anyone that has the log-in information can access it, so if student's are frivolous with their information someone else can get in and alter what they have saved, which is to be expected in high school.
C6.Q1:
After considering the various types of digital technologies presented in this chapter, what three pieces of equipment do you think you would most want for your future or current classroom? Explain why you selected these three and how you would use them for teaching and learning.
I'm going to have to stick with what I know and go with wireless internet, cloud computing and mobile devices
Wireless internet is the way of the world. It would be counter productive to not prepare my students for it by allowing them to utilize it everyday, as they already do. This will ensure that I have the ability to administer my performance objectives seamlessly, while expecting them back timely due to being able to by-pass long waiting times when dealing with students that don't have immediate access to the internet.
Cloud Computing will allow me to also create seamless interactions with my students. I already utilize it and it allows me to respond to my students instantaneously, sometimes while they are working on the project! It also allows the students to work from home, on the go, and virtually anywhere that they have access (thanks to WIFI!).
Mobile Devices are essential because thats were all the action is taking place in contemporary America. I'm doing this on a mobile device right now, how dare I not give that same accessibility to my students. utilizing these devices will allow my students to learn virtually anywhere. They can also facilitate learning in the classroom, by allowing students the ability to immediately show students what they are working on or share information etc.