Article responses

The first article was very interesting because it showed how technology has become more and more pervasive in society. Students should learn to use those resources more efficiently. I understand newer technology is not financially feasible for every district, but sometimes the problem lies with the teacher not being willing to learn or teach "tech literacy" skills. Different tools like an mp3 player or podcasts can really help diverse students get important information in a format most beneficial to them. And by diverse, I mean different racial/ethnic backgrounds as well as different learning styles. Teachers should really be more willing to use these tools and use them well because they are so beneficial to the classroom.

TeacherTube sounds like a really great supplement to lectures and other activities, either to reinforce material or present new ideas. It's also a good alternative to YouTube, which may have inappropriate videos on it. TeacherTube also sounds like it has fairly good security with the moderators and others looking for inappropriate material. While this is a good tool, it shouldn't dominate the classroom learning experience. It could go a long way in further explaining issues, however. I can see why districts would be hesitant to allow access to the site, but a strong case can be made for it's use. Perhaps administrators could try it out first, before allowing the use in classrooms, to see the benefits of it.

Teachermates are a great tool for elementary students, especially those who need somehing more to catch their attention, or those who are more visual learners. It could also be used for older students who need more remedial reading/math lessons. Even though $50 may not sound like much to most of us, I think it may be too much for many families. These are being piloted in very urban areas, but I don't think every family would be able to purchase one for their student. I liked how easy it sounded to use, charge, and send data to the teacher's computer.

The last article really struck a chord with me because I'm going to be a journalism teacher, and I always enjoy a First Amendment debate. Online speech creates many hazy areas in the matter of free speech. However, I'm a firm believer that off-campus speech cannot be punished in school unless there is likely to be a substantial disruption. Chances are, calling an administrator a bad name is not going to cause a riot. It'll just make him/her mad. And that is not enough to warrant punishment. The student didn't create the blog at school or post the offensive entry at school. Therefore, she has the right to say what she feels, even if it is rude. Rude comments are probably made everyday by high schoolers about their principals, and she shouldn't be punished just because hers was readable online.