Looking Back, Looking Ahead

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I want to take time to reflect my educational technology journey since my first blog: “Introduction 8/26/13”. I have learned so much about incorporating technology in the past four months. I have always believed that technology incorporation in the curriculum is imperative in order to help students be equipped with the adequate tools for a competitive 21^st century global market. However, the only difference between August 26 and now is that I now know various ways to incorporate technology in order to facilitate a more effective learning environment. I am confident more than ever that I have the knowledge and skills to teach the 21^st century learners.

 Twelve Posts

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If you look at my twelve preceding blog posts, you will have a better understanding on where my exuding confidence stems from. I have learned and experienced internet research findings regarding technology, developmental stages of technology, webinars, digital investigations, digital stories, substantial technological educational resources, PLNs, web 2.0 tools, and media literacy. These past four months has assured me that technology integration in the class provides a more innovative method for differentiation and engages the students in their learning.

Essentially technology helps teachers connect with their students and allows an innovative fun learning environment. As constructivists point out, meaningful learning occurs when students connect and personalize their learning and technology can accomplish this with the help of a teacher strategically implementing it in the curriculum.

Web 2.0 Tools

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As stated, I have learned a multiple of web 2.0 tools, but there is one that has captivated me. QR Codes has revolutionized activities within my lesson plans and units. Saying that I love QR Codes would be an understatement. If you want to see an example of how I have used QR Codes as an activity take a look at my post: QR Codes Tool: Native-American Unit. You can also visit my QR Codes page on Scribd by clinking Here.

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“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” – DavidWarlick

“Teaching in the Internet age means we must teach tomorrow’s skills today.” – Jennifer Fleming

 

Media Literacy

Recently my EDUC 353: Integrating technology into the Curriculum professor showed us her Prezi on media literacy. Professor Zumpano emphasized the reality that “the goal of most media messages is to persuade the audience to do something, buy something, or believe something.” In my opinion, she concisely summed up the objectives of a multi-billion dollar market. I was amazed at how strong of a grip the media has in shaping our culture and subconsciously swaying my buying decisions, and all the media pieces in the Prezi reassured this notion.    

If we stop and think about that statement for a moment we will arrive at the conclusion that it is nearly impossible to avoid these billion dollars persuasive campaigns from seeping into our everyday life and influencing us. The quicker we realize that these advertising companies are not disappearing anytime soon then the quicker we will realize that we have to educate our youth in media literacy. According to Professor Zumapano’s Prezi, media literacy is our interaction with media and the messages we take away from it. Educating one in media literacy is providing them with the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media messages.

*Professor Zumpano’s Prezi on Media Literacy can be located here*

Should Media Literacy be taught to students?

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I believe that it is imperative to teach media literacy to our students.  This is a skill that students need to have in order to avoid being influenced and dictated by media pieces. We need to foster critical thinkers and the best way to accomplish this is to help students become aware of what is working against this notion: the media that promotes excessive materialistic consumerism. We must educate our students in media literacy so that their generation is the one that takes back the control from these monopolizing ruthless titans of advertisement.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Image Source: Screenshot of the: Call of Duty: Black Ops Commercial "There Is a Soldier in All of Us" on YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pblj3JHF-Jo

A Personal Touch

         

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The above media piece had the most impact on me. It is an advertisement for a first-person shooting war game called “Call of Duty: Black Ops”. The trailer entails many well-known celebrities (Kobe Bryant, Jimmy Kimmel, and many others) actually holding assault rifles and shooting into the distance in a war-like environment. The reason this piece impacts me is because my brother actively fought in Iraq while he served in the Army. He almost lost his life protecting our American freedom and liberties that many of us take for granted. He returned to the States as a veteran, and what does he and countless of American soldiers’ family see on their screens? They see billion dollar corporations glorifying gruesome wars on our TV and internet screens. These billion dollar corporations don’t care about families burying their fallen soldiers, they only care about making a profit with their unrealistic glorification of war. This personal connection that I have with my brother and war is the reason I feel impacted by this nonsense every time I see it advertised on my television screen or while I have to endure it in order to see a music video on YouTube.       

*Let me know your throughts and comments regarding media literacy on the comment section.*

*Also make sure you take a look at the Prezi on media literacy*