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.