Literature Review

“Teaching Online Made Me a Better Teacher": Studying the Impact of Virtual Course Experiences on Teachers' Face-to-Face Practice.” By, M. D. Roblyer, Marclyn Porter, Talbot Bielefeldt, and Martha B. Donaldson http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/EJ844209.pdf

I decided to read and review an article that I found on ERIC through the Shapiro Library’s EBSCOHOST. After searching for a while to find the perfect document to review I stumbled upon the article, “Teaching Online Made Me a Better Teacher": Studying the Impact of Virtual Course Experiences on Teachers' Face-to-Face Practice.” This article takes an in-depth look at how online instruction can help the classroom teacher better navigate through technology and still be able to deliver a lesson and a message to their students.

I was not aware that there were so many K-12 classrooms that took advantage of virtual learning but the article stated that, “that in 2004–2005, there were an estimated 506,950 technology-based distance education course enrollments in public school districts.” I found this statistic to amazing. I know that as a student on the university level, it is mandatory for most students to interact with the classroom and the instructor through the web, but I did not realize that it was this prevalent in the secondary educational world as well. It is a known fact that students at the secondary level do not always put 100% of their effort and thought into an in class discussion. Homework is not always completed in the best effort either. The article that I read for this blog stated, “In asynchronous discussions, students had more time to think about their discussions … (which) improved the depth and quality of responses.”

However, this article did not focus so much on the great impact that the technology had on student but on the teachers themselves. In a world where the majority of teachers in today’s classroom did not receive their education in a technologically advanced classroom, it is imperative that they learn through continuing education of some sort. By being an instructor through technological means, it not only strengthened their competency with the computer and all of its applications, but also made the teacher a more prominent figure in the real-life classroom.

I think that it is an exciting time to be studying education and learning how technology can be integrated into classroom to accommodate the 21^st century students. It is also challenging as technology has grown in relevance in the current years, and it can be difficult to be at the same competency level as some student who have grown up in this era. The best educational tool for teachers is to gain personal experience and the article written by M. D. Roblyer, Marclyn Porter, Talbot Bielefeldt, and Martha B. Donaldson, makes that very evident.

Ciao, Jenna

Digital Nation

I was very intrigued with the profiling that was done of South Korea's struggle with Internet addiction. It was interesting that children of such a young age were able to access these "PC" bars for all hours of the night. When it is really taken into consideration is there really a difference between these Internet bars and drinking bars? I guess that is up for debate. I ti s sort of shocking that the country has become so engulfed in the online lifestyle. Although the United States has not gotten to quite that extreme, I do not believe that it is impossible for our society to face such a challenge in the future.

It was also interesting to see the MIT students with their lifestyles so wrapped in technology media. In class how is one to really hear what the instructor is saying, or really get a substantial education from the information being displayed when Facebook and E-Mail is on in front of the student's face. Self control and organization is a must but self control is not always a high point for college aged individuals.

After watching the first half of this documentary, I am a little confused on my take on technology in the education system. When first viewing the videos made available on youtube.com I was taken aback with just how important it really is to incorporate these media in education. Now after viewing this documentary, I am a little nervous as to where I stand in regards to technology in the classroom. I guess South Korea was learning from their mistakes and teaching their students at a young age to respect the Internet, but at the same time they had to hit bottom to reach that conclusion. Is it possible for America to learn from the mistakes of others rather than see our own society fall prey to disadvantages that technology can at times offer?

About Me

I do not claim to be technologically advanced. I laughed out loud when reading Digital Immigrants because I am definitely that person who will print out a document to revise rather than make the changes on the monitor. Although I am fluent in Facebook, I am ignorant to Twitter. I think I had joined a blogging site at one time back when technology hovered at about AOL 4.0, but it was called "Open Diary" and was very juvenile.

So anyway, I have read the articles on Digital education and the changes that are taking place within the education systems concerning technology. Although these advancements are rather exciting and as a prospective teacher, I would desire to "engage" my students. I will admit that I fall behind the curve when it comes to things like "pod casts" or "digital; story telling." I do own an iPod am was ecstatic when i realized my car had an "aux" jack for me to listen to the thing out loud.

I am a graduate student at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, NH. I have recently graduate the Bachelor's program with a degree in English Language and Literature. I will admit that I am a little old school about education and I prefer to hand write my essays, which is exactly what I did for my final in my last class of the degree.

I work full time at an insurance company providing quality customer service to our members. I do not wish to get into great detail about my employment, but just know that I hate it and cannot wait for my education to really propel me into the education field. I also work part time at a Brazilian Steakhouse, which I love, but it takes up any last possible second i may have for freedom, therefore I resent it as well. I love English, I love kids, I hate working. What better job than to be a teacher, right? HA! I think I may be in for a bit of a surprise...

I currently reside in Derry, NH but will be moving again within the next couple of months. I find it hard to live in any one place for longer than a year at most so I am constantly shuffling my material possessions and 2 cats from apartment to apartment. Its hectic but it adds a certain flair to my life and personality that I feel would be lacking otherwise.

Anyway, I look forward to advancing my knowledge about the digital media and how it can be applied to the education system, and essentially to my life. I am more than eager to polish off my old typing fingers and get our assignments underway! I look forward to our future discussions and interactions!

Yours,
Jenna Moore