Reflection to Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology Chapter 2

After reading chapter two on the technology enthusiast’s perspective I think that the authors made several interesting points. I can see the comparison they made comparing the increased use of computers to in or society to other revolutions in the past like the industrial revolution in the way they change how human society works. I think that comparison brings a sense of gravity to how much things have changed and how the world is a different place. Going along with this, it is changing how people interact in society and therefore learn. I really liked the section of the chapter the discussion of using simulations with students to help them learn. In the past I have used a few simulations in courses to demonstrate concepts, for example I had worked with a piece of modeling software in an ecology course in which we manipulated creatures in a tide pool to identify keystone species and the cascading effects their departure made on that tiny ecosystem. I can see, more so now, the value of those types of simulations in providing learning by doing and discovery learning. Another thing that this chapter discussed that I hadn’t thought of the scope of is in the use of more complex games to use in the classroom. Beyond things like Oregon Trail which was pretty rudimentary I hadn’t explored the concept of using too many games in class. I think that there may be some difficulty in convincing administrators that World of Warcraft and Command and Conquer have any place in schools, but I really liked the idea being a person that grew up on video games.

I think that this new thinking will influence my teaching by looking at the material that I plan to teach and see how I can use some these in my future classroom. Some of the biology related modeling software and investigations I thought sounded like they would be great to use in my future classroom. With regards to the idea that computers are vastly changing the way society I think that when I am teaching that will make me consider if the tools I use and how I present things appropriate for the future world that my students will be living in.