One more thing...

Although this blog was mostly (ok, entirely) for a class, I will be continuing this blog. Although it may take on a different tone, I would like some suggestions as to what topics you would like to see discussed throughout the next couple of weeks. I look forward to hearing from all of you.

The Wrap-Up

It is obvious how technology has affected education in this day and age and why classes such as this one not only exist, but are able to exist. The most important thing that we can do though is to make sure we continue to use all of the new technologies, software, and advancements as educational aids rather than have them completely replace the teacher and the need for a thorough understanding and not be reliant on something to do the work/thinking for us. You will only get as much out of something as you put into it. You can see a prime example of that when you look at some of our blogs. Because some of us have the resources (i.e. time, education, technology at home, available help) they can make a much more professional and really an overall better blog than those of us who this may be their first time doing something of this nature. This was unfamiliar territory for me and that was evident. I learned a lot from this class, but it took putting a lot into it. It's important that I continue to become familiar with all the new technologies, programs, and software as they come out because they are going to be playing a more increased role in our every day lives.

Technology and Education

It is obvious, particularly through this course, that technology is playing an increasingly important role in the educational process. Advances in technology have allowed us to do things we never were able to do before in the classroom and have even, in some instances, gone so far as to replace the classroom. Whether or not this trend is a good thing has yet to be determined, but common knowledge would say that it is. Although there are some drawbacks to the new found reliance on some of the technology, the benefits far outweigh those drawbacks. The fact that I can take classes around my own personal schedule allows for me to get an education that otherwise would not be available to me. An elementary student or high school student who has to miss school while sick or for an extended period of time now has the ability to stay on pace with the rest of the class thanks to webcams and screencasts. Gone are the days of your mom picking up the work with a note attached, now the students mind, eyes, and focus can be in the classroom even if their body is physically elsewhere.

Here's some good related material on distance learning:

Advantages and Disadvantages of distance learning

Distance vs. Face-to-face

eBay and half.com

I'd like to talk about another advancement in technology that has helped during my educational process and that's both eBay and the eBay powered half.com Both of these two websites have been extremely beneficial to me during my education because they have provided me with affordable learning materials. While a walk-on at Northern Iowa, I didn't always have the ability to get my books for class right away because of expenses and whatnot. I found that by using these websites, I could not only find affordable books, but I could get books that had previously seen the courses and I could see the notes other students had taken/written in them as well as what they focused on while studying. I know that when eBay was launched, that was not the intent of the site, but it sure has been a nice development. I know plenty of people who may not have had books for class were it not for more affordable options such as these two sites or amazon.com

iUniversity

With the implementation of iUniversity by Apple into their iTunes program, Apple has made iTunes a legitamite tool for learning and the education process. With iTunes becoming the largest file sharing application, Apple took advantage of the application to install iUniversity, a learning tool in which students can go to download lectures, podcasts, presentations, notes, or even upload some of their own work. I personally think that this is a great tool and is something more professors should utilize for their students. Having the ability to access the information almost anytime and anyplace and being able to use a form of media that kidds are so familiar with is a huge aid to the learning process. I can understand the reluctance to provide too much information on there, because as one of the attached articles states, it could make professors obsolete. The key is to make the information supplied supplemental as opposed to complete. This will reinforce that the students continue to attend the class, and that they do some things on their own time that may be more beneficial to them than just reading out of the book. The more ways a student receives information, the better they learn, this has been well documented, so I think that if a student can listen to a lecture via podcast while they ride the bus, workout, or walk their dog, they are more likely to understand the material and have a more thorough knowledge of it and grasp on it.

Related Readings:

Article #1

Article #2

Kind of off topic...

While doing some more reasearch into iTunes (i.e. downloading games and music) I found this interesting article on all of the best of iTunes from 2009. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13515_3-10411508-26.html It's kind of interesting to compare their figures with that of other sources just to see what was particularly hot, and really what the demographic of iTunes users is. It would be interesting to see this study/comparison done, because I would venture to say that the iTunes demographic they think they have nailed down, isn't as exact as they think. Just looking at the results from the "Best of 2009" article, I know there were some things that surprised me...

Hot Jams!

As a break from the monotony, I'm going to post a song that if you don't already have it, you need to go to iTunes and get it immediately: