Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Interactivity #1

Olivia's relationship with and access to technology is very different than what I, and probably many of my classmates, are used to. I have my own laptop and a tablet, access to internet just about anywhere, and have been taught how to use technology in school since a youg age. Olivia, on the other hand, doesn't have her own computer. The only places she can really use one is the communal one downstairs in her apartment building or at school. Due to her lack of easy access to a computer, the video said that people and teachers assume that she wouldn't really know how to use technology when, on the contrary, she has taught herself to utilize it even more than her "big sister," all completely on her own.
As a teacher, I believe it is important to understand that not every student will have easy access to the computer, internet, or other forms of technology, but that doesn't mean that they can't or shouldn't learn how to use it. These students definitely should be taught especially in school becuase, due to their restricted access, they may not have the time to browse around and teach themselves. Nowadays, almost every assignement is typed up and research is done online. Students need to be taught how to do this and utilize the tools out there, even if it is not as easily accessable to them as it may be for other students. Once they are taught, they can use the computers at school to do the assignment. On the other hand, as teachers, we do need to understand if a student really does not have access and needs to handwrite something instead....but this doesn't mean we don't teach them how.

My top three most important communication technolgies are my phone, my tablet, and the internet. The internet is infinate knowledge. I can google any question or how to do something and have an answer almost instantly. I can also find just about anything on the internet, shop, read, play games, and most importantly, listen to music. My tablet is like a portable computer. I take notes on it, do homework, check my email, facebook, music, games....just about anything. I no longer need to carry around a laptop for work or emails because of this portable device. Lastly, but most important, is my phone. It is basically my lifeline. It is how I communicate with everyone, whether its via text, phone call, email, or social networking. It is always on me, and always has internet. I never need to go to a place with internet to check my emails. I know right away when a professor sends out an email that class is cancelled so I don't have to drive to school, and anything else like that. I can also use it to make to do lists, set alarms, and put everything in my calendar and it will remind me ahead of time so I never forget. this calendar can also be linked up to google so there can be a communal calendar for groups where everybody can add and access things. It also acts as my ipod, which would be in my top three if I had a seperate one.
These technologies are similar to the ones in the video but not quite the same. A lot of people in the video said a laptop for similar reasons that i said my tablet. My tablet just replaces my laptop so it is basically the same concept. Also, phones as a means of communication. Video game devices were also talked about in the video, and if it wasn't specific to communcation, my xbox would certainly be on that list. However, I can still play video games on my tablet, so I guess it serves as an all-in-one!

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