Reflection: How does globalization change the needs and demands on US, K12, higher education and corporate learning environments?
“Globalization is a process of tearing down barriers between nations. This, of course, includes free trade, but it also implies cultural, political and human exchange. A freer flow of goods and services is part of globalization…,” (Mejia-Vergnaud, 2004, pg. 67).
In my opinion, globalization is the key to creating a more knowledge amongst our entire world. Sharing knowledge sparks new ideas, which can in turn help all other areas of life.
US: Globalization changes the needs and the demands of the US greatly. It requires us to be sensitive to others cultures, religions, and the the impacts of these changes. Through globalization, the United States is taking interest in these countries matters no matter how challenging they may be (i.e. epidemics, natural disasters, diseases).
Others argue that globalization is impacting our economy. Many people feel that Americans are leaving the United States to work in other countries and in search of more economic freedom and more opportunities. As a result, our economy suffers.
K12 and Higher Education: Globalization would change the way schools run today. Students would participate in classes all around the world via the Internet. Teachers would also be able to teach a biology class to students in each of the seven continents. Globalization would allow students to experience and collaborate and interact with others of different cultures, economic statures, and governments. Ultimately, globalization would bring education to all students, no matter what economic background they come from.
Corporate Learning Environments: Globalization in the corporate environment is key to advancing new knowledge. Both the Tipping Point and Wikinomics state how efficient working globally will help the development of new medicines, and products. One company even offered to pay the person (outside of the company ) who came up with the latest "cure" for something.
In the end, I believe that globalization will generate more knowledge and be beneficial to all.
Mejia-Vergnaud, A. (2004). Effects of globalization [Electronic version]. Society
Abroad, 41, 66-70.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
EDC 668--Blog 5
How do NCLB and the Spellings Commission affect change in the use of educational technology?
Both NCLB and the Spellings Commission promote change in elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions. These legislations require institutions to be held accountable for their performance while also narrowing educational gaps. Today, all elementary and secondary education institutions require schools to assess their students yearly. Through these assessments, the government can determine the needs at each school and if further training and funding is necessary to continue a quality education. As a result of the impacts of NCLB and the Spellings Commission, more and more schools will utilize educational technology to better their institution.
Educational Technology will continue to play a role in narrowing the educational gap amongst schools. Various forms of technology including the Internet and Computers will allow further training of teachers, and providing equitable training across the nation. Institutions will be able to utilize these technologies to collaborate with other schools.
Being that NCLB is directly tied to standards based teaching, standards based curriculum would be easily accessible for students to optimize their test scores. Such Internet based programs, like Study Island, allow for standards based practice, and adjust instruction levels based on need. More and more schools will be looking to help raise API and AYP scores. Many schools will see that technology will help them to do so!
Both NCLB and the Spellings Commission promote change in elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions. These legislations require institutions to be held accountable for their performance while also narrowing educational gaps. Today, all elementary and secondary education institutions require schools to assess their students yearly. Through these assessments, the government can determine the needs at each school and if further training and funding is necessary to continue a quality education. As a result of the impacts of NCLB and the Spellings Commission, more and more schools will utilize educational technology to better their institution.
Educational Technology will continue to play a role in narrowing the educational gap amongst schools. Various forms of technology including the Internet and Computers will allow further training of teachers, and providing equitable training across the nation. Institutions will be able to utilize these technologies to collaborate with other schools.
Being that NCLB is directly tied to standards based teaching, standards based curriculum would be easily accessible for students to optimize their test scores. Such Internet based programs, like Study Island, allow for standards based practice, and adjust instruction levels based on need. More and more schools will be looking to help raise API and AYP scores. Many schools will see that technology will help them to do so!
Monday, June 2, 2008
EDC 668-Blog 4
Where do you see technology & education developing next? How do you think the symbiotic relationship between the two will evolve over the next 10 years?
Within the past ten years technology has rapidly teemed with education in creating a revolution of change. At times, schools take advantage of technology and utilize its benefits to better enhance the classroom lessons. These lessons often prompt critical thinking, active learning, and collaboration amongst students. Students also utilize their experiences with using technology in the education setting, into the business world. Teachers do see the benefits that technology has to offer, though they lack the time, resources and training to integrate it within a lesson. The digital age is here to stay and it is important to help all teachers jump on the bandwagon of technology integration in education.
The book Next: the Future Just Happened (Lewis, 2001) is the perfect example of how the Internet has revolutionized the way people live. Two high school students used the Internet during off school hours to follow the stock market and bestow legal advice free of charge. These two examples illustrate the power of technology and the need to incorporate it within a classroom setting. Lewis depicts the successes of these two people and how it impacts not only themselves and businesses. With this said, it is important to note that technology is a key function in the way businesses run today.
Ten years from now, I believe that education will have a symbiotic relationship with technology. I hope that all classrooms will be fully equipped with the latest technological innovations that impact learning. It is my hope that more collaboration will be done online, in the hopes to teach business skills as well as computer skills. Students will take control of the new technological revolution in education. They will express a need to their teachers about how technology can transform our society for the better.
Within the past ten years technology has rapidly teemed with education in creating a revolution of change. At times, schools take advantage of technology and utilize its benefits to better enhance the classroom lessons. These lessons often prompt critical thinking, active learning, and collaboration amongst students. Students also utilize their experiences with using technology in the education setting, into the business world. Teachers do see the benefits that technology has to offer, though they lack the time, resources and training to integrate it within a lesson. The digital age is here to stay and it is important to help all teachers jump on the bandwagon of technology integration in education.
The book Next: the Future Just Happened (Lewis, 2001) is the perfect example of how the Internet has revolutionized the way people live. Two high school students used the Internet during off school hours to follow the stock market and bestow legal advice free of charge. These two examples illustrate the power of technology and the need to incorporate it within a classroom setting. Lewis depicts the successes of these two people and how it impacts not only themselves and businesses. With this said, it is important to note that technology is a key function in the way businesses run today.
Ten years from now, I believe that education will have a symbiotic relationship with technology. I hope that all classrooms will be fully equipped with the latest technological innovations that impact learning. It is my hope that more collaboration will be done online, in the hopes to teach business skills as well as computer skills. Students will take control of the new technological revolution in education. They will express a need to their teachers about how technology can transform our society for the better.
Monday, May 19, 2008
EDC 668--Blog 3
How can authentic learning tools improve student engagement and deepen learning? What does the apprenticeship model tell us about learning?
Authentic learning is the idea where you create an experience for a child to learn something. A teacher actually immerses the child into the subject, while minimally using a textbook. Oftentimes teachers try to create authentic learning experiences that a child will often prompt a child to further explore and discuss a topic, much more in-depthly than if the experience was not authentic. This process often leads to further inquiry from the student and allows the teacher to guide the students learning.
The apprenticeship model parallels authentic learning and is the idea that students learn through actively experiencing something. Actively using newly acquired knowledge is important because it is then committed to long term memory. Oftentimes newly learned material is easily forgotten because the learner has not had the opportunity to apply what he has learned. Hence, the apprenticeship model is very important in learning theory.
Authentic learning is the idea where you create an experience for a child to learn something. A teacher actually immerses the child into the subject, while minimally using a textbook. Oftentimes teachers try to create authentic learning experiences that a child will often prompt a child to further explore and discuss a topic, much more in-depthly than if the experience was not authentic. This process often leads to further inquiry from the student and allows the teacher to guide the students learning.
The apprenticeship model parallels authentic learning and is the idea that students learn through actively experiencing something. Actively using newly acquired knowledge is important because it is then committed to long term memory. Oftentimes newly learned material is easily forgotten because the learner has not had the opportunity to apply what he has learned. Hence, the apprenticeship model is very important in learning theory.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
EDC 668--Blog 2
Why do educational organizations choose to employ portfolios? What value does the use of rubrics in evaluating activities and portfolios bring? How can peer review affect learning progress and growth?
Educational institutions are not the only organizations that use portfolios to showcase work. Models and artists use portfolios to show potential employers their accomplishments, their capabilities, their particular growth within the industry, and what they have to offer their future employer. A portfolio not only shows off an artist's or model's best work, but work throughout their careers. It is also important for employers to see the potential of their employee.
An educational portfolio is quite similar to that of a model or artist. Educators employ portfolios as a means showcases the work of a student over period of time. These portfolios contain pieces of work from throughout the school year that usually show a student's growth. Oftentimes portfolios are used as a means for a child to reflect upon the work that is done. A student will then have a more thorough picture of their growth within a subject over a particular time period.
According to Dr. Helen C. Barrett's article "The Research on Portfolios in Education" portfolios are often a means of assessment. http://electronicportfolios.com/ALI/research.html
"In their synthesis of "Portfolio Research: A Slim Collection," Herman and Winters (1994) note the following:
Well-designed portfolios represent important, contextualized learning that requires complex thinking and expressive skills. Traditional tests have been criticized as being insensitive to local curriculum and instruction, and assessing not only student achievement but aptitude. Portfolios are being heralded as vehicles that provide a more equitable and sensitive portrait of what students know and are able to do. Portfolios encourage teachers and schools to focus on important student outcomes, provide parents and the community with credible evidence of student achievement, and inform policy and practice at every level of the educational system. (Educational Leadership, October 1994, pp. 48-55)
Rubrics are a great way to assess learning and give students an understanding of how they will be graded prior to completion, whereas tests can be a hit or miss. Rubrics also give the instructor an idea to which degree a student has mastered a concept and allows a child to present these concepts in a variety of ways. Howard Gardner is a known researcher of learning and says that there are 8 different ways students learn. It is important to hone in on the skills that students have a strength in and allow students to learn through these new lenses.
Peer review is method by which a person's peers scrutinize the work that you have done. I feel that peer review is a very practical way to learn. It is important to get insight from the "equivalents" within your industry or field. As a student, and a teacher, I feel that I often learn a lot more from my peers. They often give me insight into something that I would not have thought of. To me, peer review is more of a less threatening atmosphere, than that of a review of experts.
Educational institutions are not the only organizations that use portfolios to showcase work. Models and artists use portfolios to show potential employers their accomplishments, their capabilities, their particular growth within the industry, and what they have to offer their future employer. A portfolio not only shows off an artist's or model's best work, but work throughout their careers. It is also important for employers to see the potential of their employee.
An educational portfolio is quite similar to that of a model or artist. Educators employ portfolios as a means showcases the work of a student over period of time. These portfolios contain pieces of work from throughout the school year that usually show a student's growth. Oftentimes portfolios are used as a means for a child to reflect upon the work that is done. A student will then have a more thorough picture of their growth within a subject over a particular time period.
According to Dr. Helen C. Barrett's article "The Research on Portfolios in Education" portfolios are often a means of assessment. http://electronicportfolios.com/ALI/research.html
"In their synthesis of "Portfolio Research: A Slim Collection," Herman and Winters (1994) note the following:
Well-designed portfolios represent important, contextualized learning that requires complex thinking and expressive skills. Traditional tests have been criticized as being insensitive to local curriculum and instruction, and assessing not only student achievement but aptitude. Portfolios are being heralded as vehicles that provide a more equitable and sensitive portrait of what students know and are able to do. Portfolios encourage teachers and schools to focus on important student outcomes, provide parents and the community with credible evidence of student achievement, and inform policy and practice at every level of the educational system. (Educational Leadership, October 1994, pp. 48-55)
Rubrics are a great way to assess learning and give students an understanding of how they will be graded prior to completion, whereas tests can be a hit or miss. Rubrics also give the instructor an idea to which degree a student has mastered a concept and allows a child to present these concepts in a variety of ways. Howard Gardner is a known researcher of learning and says that there are 8 different ways students learn. It is important to hone in on the skills that students have a strength in and allow students to learn through these new lenses.
Peer review is method by which a person's peers scrutinize the work that you have done. I feel that peer review is a very practical way to learn. It is important to get insight from the "equivalents" within your industry or field. As a student, and a teacher, I feel that I often learn a lot more from my peers. They often give me insight into something that I would not have thought of. To me, peer review is more of a less threatening atmosphere, than that of a review of experts.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Reflection 1: EDC 668
Melissa asks: What is the role of an electronic portfolio in my ongoing academic and professional career in educational technology?
Electronic portfolios are being used now more than ever to show growth and knowledge in a variety of areas. According to http://www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic82.htm:
"Electronic Portfolios are a creative means of organizing, summarizing, and sharing artifacts, information, and ideas about teaching and/or learning, along with personal and professional growth. The reflective process of portfolio development can be as important as the final product. In many cases, they are used as part of faculty and student evaluation along with other assessment tools such as standardized tests. A portfolio is a sampling of the breadth and depth of a person's work conveying the range of abilities, attitudes, experiences, and achievements."
I am very happy to be creating an electronic portfolio for my last semester in the Educational Technology Program at Pepperdine. This portfolio will showcase my talents and capabilities within technology, as well as my growth over the year. I personally feel that this portfolio will serve as a basis for the next step in my career and show potential employers the full picture of myself. Not only will the portfolio, show my dedication, commitment, and expertise, but my character as well. This portfolio will give anyone that views it, a well-rounded picture of me!
Electronic portfolios are being used now more than ever to show growth and knowledge in a variety of areas. According to http://www.eduscapes.com/tap/topic82.htm:
"Electronic Portfolios are a creative means of organizing, summarizing, and sharing artifacts, information, and ideas about teaching and/or learning, along with personal and professional growth. The reflective process of portfolio development can be as important as the final product. In many cases, they are used as part of faculty and student evaluation along with other assessment tools such as standardized tests. A portfolio is a sampling of the breadth and depth of a person's work conveying the range of abilities, attitudes, experiences, and achievements."
I am very happy to be creating an electronic portfolio for my last semester in the Educational Technology Program at Pepperdine. This portfolio will showcase my talents and capabilities within technology, as well as my growth over the year. I personally feel that this portfolio will serve as a basis for the next step in my career and show potential employers the full picture of myself. Not only will the portfolio, show my dedication, commitment, and expertise, but my character as well. This portfolio will give anyone that views it, a well-rounded picture of me!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Digital Native vs. Digital Immigrant vs. Digital Progressive?
Through the course of my action research project and in setting up the technology club, I have noticed something completly different about the avenue today's new generation's (our kids) approach technology. Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives are the current buzzwords for technology knowledge and usage today, but what do we term today's students.
Digital Immigrants are people that were not born into technology, merely saw it evolve before their eyes. As Marc Prensky states: Digital immigrants learn to adapt to their environment (various technolgical mediums), like most immigrants to a new country need to adapt to their surroundings. Adapting to these new technolgoies can be challenging, as many immigrants tend to be hesitant and resistant to the new change and ease of life that technolgoy brings. Oftentimes Digital Immigrants are reluctant to change their ways for fear that the technolgy will fail them. One such example is using email. Oftentimes Digital Immigrants feel it is important that even when they use technology, like sending an email, they should phone the reciever to make sure that the email was received. Digital Immigrants can become Digital Natives as their comfort level and technolgy use broadens.
Digital Natives, on the contrary, view technology as a natural part life. In other words, they cannot live without it. Digital Natives have grown up with the technologies and feel very comfortable incorporating them within their daily lives. Digital Natives also rely on technology to make their lives easier. Marc Prensky, the person who coined the term Digital Native, states "kids born into any new culture, learn the new language easily, and forcefully resist using the old." While there are two contrasting sides, it is important that Digital Immigrants understand that there is no turning back when it comes to technology.
My generation (the twenty-somethings) feels very comfortable being Digtal Natives. We have grwon up with all of the latest gadgets and found means to master new technologies. We continue to troubleshoot problems and look for answers to help make the technology work with our lives. We are now able to survive in today's society and are even stepping up the ladder in the business sector fasterand even surpassing the Digital Immigrants. Today's Natives are more apt to work collectively within their business sectors, rather than work individualistically.
As a new generation enters the technological revolution, my colleague and I have observed that there is already a change in their beliefs about technology. This generation was born into technology and understands how technolgoy is "supposed to work." As part of my action research project, I am working with students in a technology club. These studnets are given learning adventures and they have to "solve" the problems on their own. The are to troubleshoot and work with peers, and ask the experts (the teachers) if as a last resort. Through my observations, many of the students get frustrated when the cannot solve a problem right away. They don't go and search through the "HELP" section and they do not embark on the trial and error methodology. They merely come to me and ask for help. My colleague and I have been struggling to coin a new phrase. What do we call the next generation of kids that knows how the computer should work for ease of use, yet the computer is not capable of meeting those nees yet (ex. drag and drop technique). After discussing this observation with my colleague, she termed it "Digital Progressives" The kids seen how the computer "should" work, yet is not capbable of meeting the needs just yet!
Digital Natives are people that
Digital Immigrants are people that were not born into technology, merely saw it evolve before their eyes. As Marc Prensky states: Digital immigrants learn to adapt to their environment (various technolgical mediums), like most immigrants to a new country need to adapt to their surroundings. Adapting to these new technolgoies can be challenging, as many immigrants tend to be hesitant and resistant to the new change and ease of life that technolgoy brings. Oftentimes Digital Immigrants are reluctant to change their ways for fear that the technolgy will fail them. One such example is using email. Oftentimes Digital Immigrants feel it is important that even when they use technology, like sending an email, they should phone the reciever to make sure that the email was received. Digital Immigrants can become Digital Natives as their comfort level and technolgy use broadens.
Digital Natives, on the contrary, view technology as a natural part life. In other words, they cannot live without it. Digital Natives have grown up with the technologies and feel very comfortable incorporating them within their daily lives. Digital Natives also rely on technology to make their lives easier. Marc Prensky, the person who coined the term Digital Native, states "kids born into any new culture, learn the new language easily, and forcefully resist using the old." While there are two contrasting sides, it is important that Digital Immigrants understand that there is no turning back when it comes to technology.
My generation (the twenty-somethings) feels very comfortable being Digtal Natives. We have grwon up with all of the latest gadgets and found means to master new technologies. We continue to troubleshoot problems and look for answers to help make the technology work with our lives. We are now able to survive in today's society and are even stepping up the ladder in the business sector fasterand even surpassing the Digital Immigrants. Today's Natives are more apt to work collectively within their business sectors, rather than work individualistically.
As a new generation enters the technological revolution, my colleague and I have observed that there is already a change in their beliefs about technology. This generation was born into technology and understands how technolgoy is "supposed to work." As part of my action research project, I am working with students in a technology club. These studnets are given learning adventures and they have to "solve" the problems on their own. The are to troubleshoot and work with peers, and ask the experts (the teachers) if as a last resort. Through my observations, many of the students get frustrated when the cannot solve a problem right away. They don't go and search through the "HELP" section and they do not embark on the trial and error methodology. They merely come to me and ask for help. My colleague and I have been struggling to coin a new phrase. What do we call the next generation of kids that knows how the computer should work for ease of use, yet the computer is not capable of meeting those nees yet (ex. drag and drop technique). After discussing this observation with my colleague, she termed it "Digital Progressives" The kids seen how the computer "should" work, yet is not capbable of meeting the needs just yet!
Digital Natives are people that
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