Sunday, March 4, 2007

journal 1

Professors adjust their methods to reach technology-savvy generation
By Eleanor Yang Su
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

In this article, the author describes the generational shift in technology and it’s affects in the college classroom. According to Yang Su, teachers are feeling both weary as well as excited about having to use technology to connect with their students. Students are continuously on their cell phones talking or texting or on their computers instant messaging their friends, all while taking notes during lecture. Teachers in the San Diego County Universities are finding that they must adjust their teaching strategies in order to maintain an intriguing learning environment. The article also stated that this new generation, which has been recognized as “Generation Y”, has become adapted to some serious multi-tasking abilities. As an example, Yang Su mentioned a college student who was able to effectively have a conversation with her grandmother, check and respond to her email accounts and carry on a conversation through ichat with one of her friends. Teachers who have been able to adjust their teaching methods have found that they now have a much better connection and understanding of their students in their class and recommend using technology in creative way s when creating lesson plans.

Question 1: How familiar are you with technology and prepared to use in your classroom?
Luckily CSUSM has provided me with many classes that reinforce my compatibility with technology. I feel as though I am confident in performing the tasks that I would need when conducting or creating new lesson plans for my class. I do, however, feel as though it is necessary to constantly update my knowledge in the technological field, as, I am sure, the students in my class are.

Question 2: Do you think that technology is beneficial to the classroom?
Yes, definitely! I agree with the above article written by Yang Su, when it talks about how bringing the use of technology into the classroom can help stimulate discussion and actually help the teacher relate more with their students. As a teacher, I believe that it is important to stay updated on the new and upcoming uses of technology. I believe that the more methods you know in how to effectively teach a lesson to all different types of learners the better.

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