Seedlings Show 115

After listening to the podcast about Assistive Technology, I was inspired to do more research on the book that the guest, Chris Bugai, wrote called The Fun and Practical Guide to Assistive Technology in Public Schools. Although I was unable to purchase and read the book at this time, I was able to find a lot of interesting information in the book reviews. Assistive Technology, first of all, is the providing of tools and strategies to students with special needs that aid in their learning. In some of the reviews, the writers spoke about the strategies listed in the book for considering AT for all students. Peggy in the Seedlings Show also touched on this topic by saying that AT should be trying to reach all learners and not just for special needs learners. My humble opinion is in line with Peggy's sentiments. I believe that there are so many benefits that technology presents to students that the application of such tools and strategies, therefore, should be applied to all kinds of students with all kinds of varied learning styles.

Digital Nation Video

This video had some really surprising facts and opinions scattered throughout the report. One of the most striking things I heard was an early quote from Doug Rushkoff stating that "Geeks are normal now." His words hit me a funny way. The word geek always had this negative connotation to it and I often associated social awkwardness with the term. But now, with the immersion of technology, geeks are at the forefront of our society. They are the individuals that we turn to for help when we can't figure some piece of equipment out. I wonder how that shift from social "loser" to social "winner" will effect places like schools? Will the popularity of students now rely on their ability to master technology instead of face-to-face skills?

I definitely found the Internet Rescue School completely shocking! I laughed out loud when I first saw it, to be honest. It seemed like such a silly idea, but then I heard the statement that it was trying to "recapture a childhood lost to the Internet" and I started to really think about it. Are today's children missing out on their childhood? What are they really losing in this trade for constant multimedia connection? It scares me to think that if I am blessed to have children, I am going to have to fight to ensure that they experience a proper childhood rather than become addicted to a technological world. As a teacher, I am definitely thinking about how different children will look in the classroom if all they can think about is being on-line? How am I to relate to a child who cannot relate to just "being a kid"? What does being a kid even mean anymore?