Blog Post #1

I think using computers is a very important concept for teachers and students to grasp. I believe that it through the use of computers that students and teachers are presented to a whole world of information right at their fingertips. These days, employers are looking for well-educated, and technologically savvy people to hire. These students are exposed to problem-based learning environments which allow them to learn central concepts of a discipline, gain problem solving skills, meaningful tasks, teaches them to construct their own way of learning, and culminates in realistic, student-generated products. I believe that the teacher is a mentor and instructional designer who helps students focus on problem-solving activities.

In my classroom, I will use computers for three reasons; teaching my students about computers, using the computer as a teacher, and using computer tools to assist my students to acquire and learn information and to develop higher-order thinking skills. I hope to learn the various methods of using the computers so that I may then teach those same skills to my students, all the while using it as a medium for other genres of learning.

I definitely agree with the label "digital native" because I believe that today's youth has been born into an era of technology that has consumed society. Being a digital native means that you are already accustomed to living a life full of technology whereas the "digital immigrants" were forced to adapt to this way of life. There many differences in the way digital natives and immigrants use technology. For instance, digital natives tend to use technology as a social basis (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), whereas digital immigrants use technology more to accommodate their work. It is also at a greater ease that digital natives use technology because they have been brought up with this same technology and grow and mature alongside it. I anticipate there will be differences between myself and my future students because technology will be even more advanced than it is today and so these students will have already been introduced to it and will have no need to adapt to the advances like I will.

1. I took a CGS class back when I was earning my AA at Pensacola State College, but the class was not very helpful. I also took one technology class in high school, but again, it wasn't very helpful. I use the basic technology such as Word and occasionally Excel. I mainly use technology for writing papers and using social media so I believe this class should be very helpful.

2. I hope to learn the basic tools of using technologies such as Excel, Word, and others. I would like to be able to retain the information so much as to help me use it in my future career as a teacher. My main problem when taking technology classes is retaining the information to use at a later date.

3. I have learned that my learning style is very hands on. I have to be able to see what is going on. I do not do my best learning when I am just listening to a lecture. I like to be able to interact with the subject I am learning about. This class seems to be able to fit my needs due to its need for personal interaction with the technology itself.