Communication

=__**6.3 - IM chat over Gmail w/ Leah Levi re: technology blog**__=

Leah: ok, so let's talk about a technology 4:46 PM me: well want to talk about the points you bring up in your article? i think you make some very valid points Leah: sure! 4:47 PM me: it's so true that the "older" generation seems to be getting more afraid of technology as time goes on, rather than embracing it and trying to learn how to use it don't you think? Leah: yes, def me: i can think of so many teachers off the top of my head who freak out as soon as we get a new tech in school 4:48 PM Leah: its getting harder for them to also relate to the students and their kids as that gap increases me: you are right, especially as this young generation pretty much revolve their lives around tech Leah: omg. crazy! if they only realized that technology frees up their time and will allow them to work with more students bc technology can hold their "place" while they work with other kids 4:49 PM me: exactly! it's really a fear of the unknown i think 4:50 PM Leah: yeah, and that its "more" work and too difficult to learn me: our own generation is lucky i think, because we grew up kind of directly in between the "old school" ways and the newer ways of using tech in very aspect of your life so we are able to find a balance between what is useful, and what is worth learning 4:51 PM Leah: i think everything is "more" work at first, but once u do it once u dont have to do it again 4:52 PM me: exactly...one thing that comes to mind is the X2 i remember the big uproar over that at first, but honestly, i find it SO easy and quick to use and it saves everything, so finding the info you need for a student is a breeze, and all in one place 4:53 PM Leah: exactly 4:54 PM there area also TONS of text-speech programs which will allow kids to listen and follow along in a book or textbook on the comp so a teacher does not have to sit with them the entire time the teacher can also input guided quesitons into the computer and print the student's answers after for accountability 4:55 PM me: which is a HUGE help for so many students, and frees up the teacher to do other parts of the lesson!! Leah: it allows teachers to work with ALL students, differentiate and create a universal design enviornment me: it is a win/win situation for everyone Leah: exacctly, yet we have so many teachers who are tech-phobic and not willing to learn me: exactly, which at the end of the day, should be the goal of every teacher Leah: yeah 4:56 PM me: it really is too bad, because unfortunately that is the way the world is going Leah: if we can get teacher's to be on board, we can then get parents..i think by incorporating more tech into the classroom, we are also teaching students how to use it appropriate which could lessen the prob we see kids are having today 4:57 PM me: like you said in your article, by the time someone graduates college and is ready to apply for a job, he/she needs to be proficient in many diff. uses of tech. oooo good point!! maybe that's the reason why so many kids misuse texting, emailing, social networking etc....bc they were ever taught HOW to use them 4:58 PM Leah: if their parents are not educated about those technologies and their teacher's arent either...there are no good models to follow and learn appropriateness 4:59 PM Really in today's climate, i hate to say it, but longer school days are necessary bc subjects like technology and computers need to be taught as an everyday course me: which is why they can take the freedom that some of these technologies provide and run a little rampant with them! i know....you do bring up a good point 5:00 PM Leah: kids can learn safety, causes and effects of tech as well as powerpoint for proj, excel, search engines, research proj, so much more! exactly, they do run rampant me: yes! 5:01 PM to be honest i am shocked that technology is not a bigger part of the school day, when it's such a huge expectation that all students be proficient by the time they graduate but maybe it all goes back to teacher/administrator/parent resistance Leah: i think it really does 5:02 PM if it was a priority, the district/school/teacher/parent would make it i really do think many adults do not realize the benefits of it yet and are scared or naive 5:03 PM Poster board presentations dont really happen anymore at the collegiate/work force level...powerpoint is where it's at! 5:04 PM me: yes!! and i love powerpoint in my ideal classroom, every kid would have a laptop so that way things like powerpoint or slide show could be a HW assignment! Leah: it's interesting to be talking about this subject as well as looking at this convo from the perspective of a teacher, bc we are bringing up several points which can get a bit off target but are imp to talk about i know! 5:05 PM my cousins in TX, their school lent out a laptop at the beg of the year to EVERY student to bring to school and use as well as do HW on 5:06 PM me: that's fabulous....elementary school? Leah: i worry that the multitasking and the distractibility of kids today are an effect of this type of communication middle and high school me: i think it definitely is a direct effect of it Leah: yeah 5:07 PM its hard to keep track of all of our thoughts me: it's one of the most negative aspects of it Leah: def me: along with their lack of social kills skils* Leah: absolutely all they want to do is play on the comp...even in afterschool me: skills* AH! sorry haha don't you think though? Leah: i am like no! let's have some face-face time 5:08 PM me: i think it becomes more apparent as they get older too Leah: every year i get a new group of the kids...the social skills are lacking even more, more immature, and more distracted absolutely 5:09 PM me: oyyy.....it's so scary Leah: as with everything, there needs to be a balance approach me: they are SO different than the way we were at that age, and we aren't that much older than them! eactly exactly** Leah: tech is great and beneficial...but it cant be your only means of entertainment and written output i know! 5:10 PM im not even 10 yrs out of HS yet (almost), but what they do for entertainment, didnt even exist then me: but at the same time, it can't be ignored and feared either Leah: no, absolutely not BALANCE! 5:11 PM in fact, what is interesting is that i did all those typing programs when i was little nad they helped a little me: like you said....if they are taught how to use these technologies appropriately, it might eliminate that desire to always use, because they will know what the effects could be Leah: but what really helped me become a fluent typer was when AIM came out and I talked to all my friends on it! me: oh yes!! AIM changed everything 5:12 PM haha Leah: yeah, balance and education i think are the themes! hahah me: i think that's a good note to end on.....and to have people think about.....BALANCE and how education today needs to strive towards that more Leah: AIM was awesome! but there were those chat rooms but i was always taught not to go on them, and for the most part i didnt unless it was disney themed or something 5:13 PM yes! great ending! me: me too!! hahaha....the good old days Leah: haha me: nice chat! Leah: good job stef!

__**6.2 Questions**__

 * **How is communication different from collaboration?**
 * I think communication is the actual mode in which we talk to others to express ideas, opinions, feelings, etc. Collaboration is then taking that mode and utilizing it in a way in which people work together in order to create something - be it academically, professionally, or even personally. Ideas, products, or strategies are the result of successful collaboration.**


 * **How can a wiki be used as a tool for online collaboration?**
 * The Wiki is the perfect place for people to share ideas, communicate feelings and opinions, and then reflect on what has been in shared. It is through all of this that new ideas are created, posted, and stored, and these ideas are often done so with the help of more than one person - collaboration at its purest!**
 * **How can the technologies we have used so far meet the communication and collaboration objects as outlined above?**
 * The Internet is an enormous resource on its own, with multiple different ways to communicate and collaborate. More specifically, however, I think that the Wikispaces we each have are great because we have each been able to find and post resources that have been useful to many of us in our teaching careers. The questions posed have prompted some great reflection and allowed us to find ways to become even better in our craft. I also have really enjoyed some of the technnologies we have learned about as teaching tools, such as the slideshow, the Wordle, and being able to post lesson plans and create folders of resources on Teachers Domain.**