Garry_Marshall_Web20

As I started reading the article, I started to think that there is always a disconnect from one generation to the next in terms of technology, particularly since technology changes so quickly. Web 2.0 tools are serving to bridge the gap quicker than any tool that I have seen in previous years. For example, teachers and students alike are using websites such as Facebook. The shared use of websites is resulting in a shared language between teachers and students.

The authors of the article appears to be speaking from a college background, whereas we all work in a K-12 environment. Throughout the cohort, however, we have been able to see that there is a disconnect with some professors and with members in our cohort. We are not the digital natives that Prensky refers to, but we are digital immigrants, I suppose. Whatever the case may be, we have been more comfortable and more active participants in the world of technology than many of our professors. We have had discussions centered around printed text in a linear fashion in most of our graduate courses.

The author states that the N-gen may have brains that are wired differently than their predecessors. As a scientist, I laugh at this suggestion internally while I may verbally ask to see the research. Divisive speech will ultimately serve its purpose of separating groups of people with artificial barriers. We need to begin thinking of ways in which we are all alike in confronting new technology. If someone appears to be a better or more efficient user, we should emulate them and figure out how we might also use the technology. Then, we should evaluate it critically. In this way, we can learn from our students and apply our own experience and knowledge to a better understanding.

I agree with the authors in that a multimedia presentation can be just as valuable as a written essay most of the time. We always need to teach students about the purpose of intended text and we always need to explore methods of presenting information, whether it be in an infographic, photo slideshow, or in an essay. The debate comes back to an even older debate about movies versus books. Which is more meaningful in conveying a story? There are many different answers to that question and it ultimately boils down to a subjective opinion.

For instance, here's a word map of this response. What's your opinion? [|Wordle]

I resent when the authors stated that classrooms tend to encourage and reward knowledge stored in the head as opposed to digital knowledge. It is valuable to be able to find information, but it is more valuable to know it without having to go look it up. Students will not always have an electronic device available and we certainly don't want to place our reliance on distributed, managed, and controlled knowledge.

Administrators need to train teachers that collaboration is important. It needs to be modeled. Data needs to be collected. Professional development should occur. The authors suggest that it is important, but provide no guidance for achieving that goal.

It is true that we must provide opportunities for our students to create learning networks in addition to their social networks. Students have a right to privacy and safety on the internet. We need to create a safe place for students to work collaboratively across classes, throughout the school, across schools, and at times outside of school. We need to provide the time for it and facilitate it in classrooms for it to be effective.