Nick Donofrio

Rare is the occasion when a guest speaker actually changes your mind about something. Nick Donofrio, the esteemed speaker who visited New Paltz last week, gave a riveting talk about innovation in the 21st century. His credentials were lengthy and he seemed like a smart guy, but this man's passion and clarity really sold his point. The classrooms of today, not to mention the business world, are operating under an old and obsolete model that turns a blind eye towards technology. Innovation is much more than clever change conjured up in the mind on some sleepless night, for change is always occurring even in this very second of suddenness. Innovation exceeds the changes wrought by chance or time, bringing forth a deliberate advancement to raise standards of living. Nick made many great points about focusing not so much on the troubles of our own time but on the possibilities of the future. The future for technology and education is wide open and continues to grow with each passing day. The talk was rather enlightening, yet many walked out of that auditorium with more questions than probable answers. The great task of incorporating technology into education, and the world at large for that matter, lays before us and now we must decide what to make of it. Will this nation continue to hold on to those lingering vestiges of the past or will a collaborative and open setting prevail? I haven't the answer but there is one thing I do know: unless we adapt and innovate to cope with the changing realities of the business and educational world, this nation will soon be left behind as others embrace technology in the 21st century.

Day 12

Although I cannot honestly say I recall much from this particular class, I do feel I must reflect upon the class as a whole. At first my resistance to technology hindered my ability to incorporate it into education, but now I feel as if education and technology are inextricably bound together, and separating one or the other would be disastrous. Let students learn in a way that satisfies the class, not the teacher or the district administrators. technology ought to enhance the flow and free exchange of information, rather than thwart interactive learning. Finally, it is important to remember that technology is not a panacea for education, just a mere tool to help facilitate learning when used properly and not arbitrarily. With a nod to JMG and all the others who helped open this road to educational technology, I rest my case and this blog for good.

Day 11

The wonderful world of copyright laws is dull and frustrating at best. Perhaps nothing rubs me the wrong way as some of the litigious nonsense protecting the intellectual, and often times not so intellectual, property of knowledge hoarders abroad. Information ought to change hands freely for the purpose of enlightenment rather than find itself entangled in a jungle of red tape and copyright laws. Free thinking isn't so free anymore, and although I do appreciate the idea of intellectual property, I feel I must stand against it. Every fiber in my body pleads for separation from the copyright laws of today. Money is a strong motivator, but so is the sharing of ideas for the greater good of the human mind. I will conclude with a line which I refuse to cite in protest of the late copyright conundrum, "Laws never made men a whit more just."

Day 10

It was quite interesting to take a look at all the other student classroom observations, the human potential for creativity never ceases to amaze me. I found some of the reports to be alarming in the lack of technological integration in some of the local districts. Something is always on the move in the wide world of technology, yet few schools are willing to spend the time and money to embrace the Digital Age. The technology plan at Wallkill had many lofty goals and high minded sentences praising the potential for better classrooms in the district, yet the classrooms show little, if any, direct change in the past few years. Old Ben Franklin was right, "Well done is better than well said." Perhaps the district execs are hiding behind the ruffled robes of long sentences, much like this one, so as to cover their feet. More must be shown for all this technology talk. We have all heard the praises, now let us see the results.

Day 9

Windows Photostory 3 far exceeded my expectations as a great multimedia source for educators. This piece of technology is both easy to use and adapt to the classroom, especially when using storytelling to illustrate history. Visually stunning, easy to master, and effective as a captivating medium for transfering knowledge, Photostory 3 has infinite potential in the history classroom. Students could whip up a creative project documenting an era in history with visuals and projected sound without the limitations of a standard powerpoint. The music option is another great way to set the mood and arouse the emotions of sleepy students. Three cheers for Photostory 3!!!

Day 8

The wonderful world of wikis is yet another option for fledgling teachers to encourage shared ownership of knowledge. I really enjoyed experimenting with the technology in class. Wikis are the next best thing to Blackboard in the realm of public education. I can see myself developing a history wiki for students to create knowledge, rather than just passively absorb it. All in all, another great class that helped me learn new ways to open up to students on their own terms.

Your thoughts?

Day 7

To be quite honest, I really enjoyed our last class. Project based learning seems a great way, at least for some, to discover new ideas and play around with unfamiliar technologies. Dividing the class into groups is more practical for experimenting with technology, giving everyone a chance to test the waters. Just demonstrating a particular technology to the class as a whole seems to weigh heavily on passive learning, and even heavier on droopy eyelids. It seems that breaking up class time into different segments keeps students on the move and interested in what is to come. Three straight hours of lecture is unbearable, if not ineffective, whereas changing teaching methods and student activities generates greater attention rates. In a word, do not bore this generation or they will abandon you.