Week Five: You have been invited to Facebook list of "Friends of Technology"

With my fondness for technology, it's probably no secret that I thought this week's readings ROCKED! As a cohort we have debated back and forth about the use of technology; when should it be used? to what extent? does it take away from the traditional teaching of text? etc. As a future teacher of the English language, I would never want to fully abandon the tradition "book in hand" reading and learning. I too, enjoy curling up to a great novel. I love the smell and feel of a book in my hands, the sense of adventure turning each page, the bliss in completing the adventure with the characters I so deeply get involved with.

However, I do agree with Jenkins in that we are in the "Napster generation" of young people. Students simply learn differently that they did in the past. And I don't think it's been a sudden shift. I think the change has occurred somewhat gradually over time. Being a little older than most in my cohort, I have witnessed that change. For example, I have had to chuckle to myself a few times in our cohort's "technology debates" when, while in the midst of arguing that we need to get back to the traditional teaching of text and learning, students are checking cell phone messages and giggling at Facebook messages on their computers. When I was in the undergrad program some years ago, I don't recall anyone using laptops or needing to check cellphones near as much as they do today. I think technology become such a part of peoples lives, that they don't even realize how much they rely on using it.

Another reason I am so fond of technology is that I've had the experience of teaching it and watching how students interact with it. When I first introduced students to a lesson on chat rooms and IM's, I told them that they could write whatever they wanted to with the exception that, at one point in their discussion, they needed to talk about the assignment we just completed, which was formatting a research paper on a famous author. When the bell rang 50 minutes later, not only were they still pounding away messages on the computer, they actually complained about having to leave. When I looked over what they read I was absolutely amazed at the content. Sure there were a few, "Hey, are you going to Sarah's party this weekend..." but even those conversations at some point came back to the requirement; "Oh, we better quick talk about the author thing... so who did you write about? I did Mark Twain... hey did you know that really wasn't his name..." These conversations were not only engaging and informing, they were genuine and authentic in tone and understanding. I would have never got the students to talk this much about authors in a standard discussion group or a free write. By using the technology, the students were comfortable, they were in their element.

Jenkins argues that "Minimally, schools should be teaching students to thrive in both worlds," which I completely agree with. I think we'd doing an injustice to students by not teaching the tradition text and learning methods, however, in this day of age, I think we'd be doing an equal injustice not allowing them to explore technology. I think Richard Beach's article offers some great explanations for why teaching technology is important; communication with multiple audiences, fostering social relationships, extending and elaborating on their viewpoints; an engaging in a "participatory culture", to name just a few. Even as I write this, I think of the "participatory culture" I'm involved in by blogging. I'm not sure about the rest of the cohort, but I feel much more comfortable writing on a blog than I would in a traditional paper style. I feel I can be more expressive and creative, and by having a immediate, large scale audience, I feel my writing has more value and purpose. In other words... technology ROCKS! (Lame ending, but I'm tired :)