When reading the section on mindsets and looking at the table, I stopped to try and figure out what kind of person I would be and to which mindset I learn more towards. The mindsets discuss how people approach the world and look at how we have advanced in technological times as well as how those technology advances have played a roll in our lives. The "physical-industrial" mindset seems to me ... if I was reading it right ... that the world has always been the same throughout the different eras and we have been growing from experience but putting all the technology in has made it become more sophisticated. The second mindset gives all the changes in our world to the credit of technology; through all the advancements we have in technology we are experiencing a more advanced world. The second mindset continues to speak about how we curious people who are exploring and experimenting with the different technologies. The overall difference between the two mindsets is one believes we use technology as new tools that help us to discover and create new things (mindset 2) where as the other uses technology to practice the same old routines over and over again (mindset 1).
When I think about which side of the mindset I stand on, I believe being part of the millenials has made me lean towards a more mindset 2. I think it is great that we have people exploring and discovery new ideas and experiences through technological means. Instead of harping on how we can take old routines and make them better with technology, these thinkers are looking outside the box as to how we can use technology as a tool to find new methods or ideas. I think it is so important to be able to take what we are given in terms of technology and begin to discover and explore a separate type of "life" and see what can be created from technology. Those in mindset 1 seem to be people such as our parents who fear technology and using it and the unknown it brings our country in terms of inventing new tools and gadgets whereas mindset 2 seems to be the younger generation eager to learn and be creative with what they have at their fingertips.
I absolutely agree, Blaise! I think it is phenomenal that we can (I talked about this in my blog, too) use technology to enhance our student's learning! There is SO MUCH that we can do with our students that we were never able to do. I think we need to use this technology and think outside the box with it. Some of my greatest and most clear memories from my elementary years involve technology- so I can only imagine how many great projects and activities we can do with this technology that the kids will (hopefully) remember!
ReplyDeleteBlaise that is completely true! I am so glad that you are wanting to use technology in your own classroom. In our internship year, I know that technology was an important part of your teaching and I hope when you get your own classroom you can use more of those. Technology is a part of our culture and we need to be able to embrace them and give our students access to this because it is a part of their future.
ReplyDeleteThe point that doing things with technology bringing up feelings of fear and uneasiness is a good one to make. I think of all the times we encourage students to step out on limbs and read aloud, share work, or speak publicly without compunction. Why should we not model such behaviors in other areas? I think sometimes the teacher has to be the learner and take chances. No one is perfect at everything but everyone has to find ways to communicate and cooperate.
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