Week Two - May 16
Skiers, Snowboarders and Digital Media: Adult and Child Encounters
Clifford, P., Friensin, and Jacobsen, D.M. (1998). An expanded view of literacy: Hypermedia in the middle school. Proceedings of ED-MEDIA AND ED-TELECOM 98: World Conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia & World Conference on Educational Telecommunications, Freiburg,Germany, June 20-25. [On-line]. Available: http://www.rockyview.ab.ca/bpeak/research/galileo/literacy.html
Jonassen, Peck & Wilson (1999). Chapter 4: Learning by Constructing Realities with Hypermedia.
The chapter, “Learning by Constructing Realities with
Hypermedia”, would made an excellent resource in the constant debate over
technology in the classroom. Such a
resource could convince weary teachers that technology isn’t so advanced and
that the student can actually be their own guide. The ensuing examples are excellent illustrations of the
quality programming available to children to meet technology and other outcomes
and objectives. As the authors
discuss, too much of the software that is available to children do not assist in
meeting such objectives, as their intended purpose is commercial. I thought this was an excellent point in the explanation of
why multimedia have not substantially affected K-12 schools, a point I have
noted in my experience as a classroom teacher.
This type of chapter, and the ensuring discussion Wednesday
night, clears up a lot of things for me regarding constructivism and technology.
To often, I have experienced technology being used in the classroom as a
“reward” for good behavior, a privilege at recess and lunch, and as a
skills- reinforcement tool during lab-times.
Rarely have I seen children creating their own experiences and
opportunities for them to construct their own meaning.
This idea relates, also to the online article, An Expanded View of
Literature: Hypermedia in the Middle School.