April 14, 2010
Rethink Possible
Today in Jason’s class we talked a lot about the PLN and the value we have gained by engaging in our own inquiries and then sharing those with our peers. We also talked about the value of Web 2.0 and how some people believe that with the internet and inquiries people will one day be able to attain educations comparable to those acquired at the university level. This could mean a lot for today’s students – especially those who have that desire to learn more. I saw an AT&T commercial today entitled “Rethink Possible” and it really reminded me of our discussion.
In her most recent blog, “Pros and Cons of Technology In the Classroom and Where I Stand,” my classmate Rachel DaBiero discusses a 90 minute workshop that she and three of my peers conducted for another LL ED course we are taking. In their presentation, Rachel, Rae Theisen, Eric Yingling, and Jesse North talked about ways that technology is being incorporated into the classroom as well as the ways in which technology could improve or hinder student performance.
Overall, the conclusion that our block came to is that technology is here to stay and we need to embrace it. Until seeing this commercial, I never thought of the ways that inquiry and things like the PLN could supplement student learning. I realized the amount of growth I had experienced through working with my PLN, but I never stopped to think about what it could mean if students everywhere were engaging in this type of inquiry.
I came into the PLN assignment hesitant to say the least. However, the more I think about it the more I realize just how much I have gained. I have been opened up to a variety of resources, connections, and most importantly a vast range of new knowledge. I realize that technology use comes with both positive and negative consequences, but this AT&T commercial really emphasized how much students can benefit from its use – if we show them how.
