Sam

I have to say that one of my favorite parts about this particular video was when the student at NIU looked into the camera and said he knew what his parents felt like when they were having to rely on him for tech information. I find it ironic that even now, the youth are getting even younger at technological proficiency. I worry though that speaking and verbal communication could become a casualty of technology. Even now, kids in the same room, will speak by texting rather than talking, even when no one else is in the same room. I don't necessarily think that is a good thing. While there are certainly positives in being very tech literate, I don't think we should let our verbal skills fall to the wayside.
1. What is your most significant "takeaway" or learning point from the video? Why? Elaborate in detail. This young person is spending way too much time playing war of war craft and not enough time doing physical activities.
2. How does this video / the ideas of this video relate or connect with your own experiences from your life. Elaborate. Considering that one of my jobs as a special education major is to teach kids effective communication. I don't believe that texting is creating young people who have the skills needed to be problem solvers. Already students are using text speak in their papers rather than proper English. I have personally seen papers that students have turned in thinking that they have done a good job and they get upset because they are told that it isn't proper to use text shorthand. Technology has a wonderful place in society, but we have to be mindful that technology can create more opportunities to connect to people, but it cannot teach people the personal touch of communication.
3. What are some of the implications of this video / the ideas of this video for your own teaching practice and pedagogic creed as a educator? Allowing students to explore new technology is a good thing. I plan to utilize as much technology as possible. We use a lot of assistive technology in special ed.