Friday, March 20, 2020

Impact of Information Technology on Education essays

Impact of Information Technology on Education essays When I was informed that I was going to speak about I.T., I felt excited and apprehensive at the same time. Excited, because this is a subject that is very close to my heart and which I strongly advocate. Apprehensive, because I am not sure if I will be able to effectively share with you the impact technology has on learning. But I guess I will never know unless I try. What I am about to present today is a result of the countless hours I spent on the Internet. Actually, I was supposed to discuss mutli-media instruction only, but I believe that multi-media is only one of several technology tools available for us now. And these is collectively called as Information Technology. So for starters, let me present to you a simple definition of Information Technology: I.T. is the process of using technology in all forms to present information to a target audience. Video recorder, players and televisions Now I am sure that all of us, in our years as college instructors have, in one way or another, used at least one of the technology listed here. Technology is being used in education as a tool for learning, collaboration, curriculum development, and staff development. Technology is a very powerful tool. But how do we know that were making the best use of technology? How can we be sure that were using technology to support what we know about how students learn best? How can we make sure that technology supports engaged learning? Learning according to modern definition, is determined by how well students perform on standardized tests. To be able to meet the demands of present times, a new definition of learning is required. According to the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, researchers and traditional reformers have shifted from traditional defini ...

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Knowin When to Hold em

Knowin When to Hold em Now I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know a thing about poker. If Kenny Rogers hadn’t sung â€Å"The Gambler†, I wouldn’t even know about holdin’ and foldin’. But one thing I do know, there’s a time to submit my works and there’s a time to â€Å"hold† ‘em. And I know that because I came close to lettin’ go at the wrong time. Twenty and excited about entering a radio station’s poetry contest, I rushed through the rules, eager to start writing. All night I lost myself in the narrator, an elderly lady on her porch reliving memories. I chuckled watching the children grow from playing to courting on the porch, I cried seeing the now-empty porch, and rejoiced picturing future reunions on the porch. The next morning, ready to mail my entry, I read the rules again and froze. I’d overlooked â€Å"Whether or not your poem wins, it will become the property of the radio station.† Whoa! With little chance of winning, I could never submit my poem anywhere else or use it myself? Disappointed, I slipped it in a drawer where it stayed for 15 years until I resigned as college professor to enter full time the field of writing and speaking. For my first tour, I retyped the poem on a more modern typewriter and had 100 copies made on plain white paper.  The first evening, in costume as story teller, I quoted a bit of the poem and following as myself, mentioned it would be available afterward. I’d laid out 25 copies with a sign, â€Å"Poems: Donation of any size† and while greeting folks heard a yell, â€Å"Go get more poems!† Already all 25 had sold! I hurriedly brought in 25 more only to hear in another few minutes, â€Å"Go get the rest of the poems!† Except for two to use for copying along the way, all had sold. It was the same each place on the two-week tour. Back home I chose a ream of quality buff-colored faux parchment paper and learned if I’d wait a few days until the store used dark brown ink, the printing could be done commercially for less money. From then on, whether driving or being flown I’ve taken the poems, although Folks want to take something home from an event but not everyone can buy our books or DVD’s. Smaller printed or craft items make buying possible for those who can’t and lagniappe for those who can. (Lagniappe [lan’ yap], an oft-used term here in Southeastern Louisiana meaning â€Å"a little something extra†.) If I’d entered that early contest and won, I’d have received eight copies of a cheap magazine with few readers. BUT, Glad I decided â€Å"No† to â€Å"sold† and â€Å"Yes† to â€Å"hold†!