Did anyone else check out Whyville? I was thinking today that educators around my age and older are at a bit of a disadvantage because we have not grown up with the internet as second nature. My first use of the world wide web happened in college and was basically just a researching tool. Though I can be taught to understand technology, I do get overwhelmed and scared of not knowing how to use it. For example, today when I bought my new LG enV® TOUCH All Phones I was panicked. There is so much to learn that literally my day was frazzled because I was in overload. I had to (eventually) laugh at myself because of what my students would have thought to see me. They would have explained each procedure in simple terms and would have been done with it. Because they have grown up with technology they are not phobic of it. Then I read about Whyville. In an educational and fun way, younger kids learn how to chat and interact in a “virtual” world. I am convinced the earlier you expose children to challenges, the easier it will be for them to excel with those challenges. Like learning to ski, the younger you start, the less fright is involved. My husband has been skiing since he could walk, and I learned at 26 because he said I had to. Still not so fond of it—can you really teach an old dog new tricks? For me, the jury is still out.
I also checked out http://zohopolls.com/ for ideas on how to teach my journalism students about surveys. As a class we could create a survey and then have everyone take that survey and calculate our results.
Sorry this is rambling a little, but I am honestly having trouble articulating all that I have been searching through and thinking about. There is so much. Perhaps I should just take a break for today. The huge influx of learning has proved to be too much for one calendar day.
Okay—maybe one more thing—I am also turning the idea around of the power of positive thought in relation to my fears of technology. Maybe if I just believe in myself a little more, I will feel less anxiety.
What have you done today to make you feel proud?
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Rachel, I have learned a lot from Dr. Shad Helmstetter in his book "What to Say When You Talk to Yourself" and he professes replacing any negative talk (and thoughts) with positive self talk. You can say to yourself something like.."I'm so tech savvy. I know a lot about technology." and it works! I sometimes fall out of this practice myself, but thank you for the reminder to all of us to make our self-fulfilled prophecies positive ones.
ReplyDeleteRachel, Your right! Students are growing up with the technology and often times know more about it than the teacher. The science teacher has tried using the overhead projector and never seems to remember how to connect his laptop, turn on the sign or be on the right input. Luckily for him, students assist him and he is on his way. Its second nature to them. For me, its like when the teacher couldn't use the VCR, and I would help her put it on channel 3 and make sure the wire were plugged in correctly.
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