Blog 6: Article Review

I both agree and disagree with the content of the article below. Yes, technology has advanced rapidly within the last 5 to 10 years, and it still is. I also agree that individuals are turning more towards video sites, but I disagree when the author says that reading and writing are “very artificial and unnatural ways to communicate, store, and retrieve information” (Prensky, 2010). I know that in this digital age more things are becoming more technology driven, but I think that future generations should still know how to write and read. The author gave a warning before he talked in depth about why reading and writing is no longer needed, but I continued to read. I probably should not have because as a pre-service teacher, I had to disagree with everything he was saying. Yes he made valid points about how there is some type of communication technology that can make up for writing and reading skills, like recorded stories or the kindle reading the text. However, he failed to mention a few other factors, like reading a menu at a restaurant, or searching or reading movie titles. Yes movies are a digital story, but the viewer has to be able to read the title.

As a future teacher, I plan on using technology in my classroom as much as I can. I agree that students in today’s society learn better and can be more creative with technology, but not every school as access to the same technologies out there. YouTube I think is a great resource. Like the author mentions, I think YouTube is great when it come to allowing people to just communicate and share their point-of-view to other viewers; plus YouTube is great for how-to videos. Unfortunately many schools have YouTube blocked because of the inappropriate content. Hopefully, my future school sees the positives that YouTube, and other video sites, have to offer, and does not block them. Because I think digital media, especially videos, are a creative way for individuals to express themselves. So as a future classroom teacher, I hope that I can show my administrators the plus side to YouTube and other video sites (if they are blocked), so I can have my students create and post videos to a class video channel. However, I do expect to teaching my student reading and writing skills because I do not plan to see these skills vanishing during my teaching career. Just because there is technology that can “do” these skills does not mean that they are still not necessary to learn.

            Does this mean I do not think that eventually there will be a type of technology that will take over reading and writing skills for everything? Absolutely not, I think that eventually there will be, but I think that we are still a long way away from that point when writing and reading skills are no longer necessary.

Prensky, M. (2010). Why You Tube matters. Why it is so important, why we should all be using it, and why blocking it blocks our kids’ education. On the Horizon, 18(2), 124–131. doi:10.1108/10748121011050469

Blog 5: Political Cartoon

What educational policy issue is this political cartoon about? 

Race to the Top

What is the purpose of the cartoon (why did the artist create it?)

I think that purpose of this cartoon is to show that students are catching on that their progress and success determines their teachers’ salaries.

What techniques did the artist use to draw your attention (refer to the cartoon analysis guide from our classroom activity)?

The artist used stereotypes and caricature by giving the teacher glasses and making her female. There is also attention drawn to the teacher and the student talking because both are have a bold article of clothing (both shirts are heavily covered in). Another feature in this cartoon is an argument not a slogan. The student’s response to his grade is not just an typical comment that students make when they get a bad grade. Instead, the young boy’s response is directed toward the teacher directly.  

What is the opinion of the artist?

The opinion of the artist seems to be that students are going to be more “controlling” in the classroom. If students do not get a good grade on an assignment (like in the cartoon) then they will blame the teacher and play the “pay cut” card when talking about their grades. I think the artist feels like the students are just going to give up and try to manipulate the teachers.

According to the artist, who benefits and who is negatively impacted by this policy?

According to this particular cartoon, students would be benefiting an the teachers will have the negative impact.

What opinions do others have on this issue?

I feel like others could also see how the students can upper-hand teachers, but I also could see how others would focus on the teacher and how he/she is lacking instruction for students.

Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not? 

Yes, I would find this cartoon to be persuasive, especially with the text at the bottom that reads, “The students quickly caught on to the new merit pay system.” I think the text in the cartoon goes to show how students could easily take advantage of the teachers.

What do you think is omitted or missing from the cartoon?

I do not think anything is missing from the cartoon. I think the artist got his/her point across very well. However, I would have like the teacher to have send something back because I thought that the pay was from standardized test scores, not homework assignments that are passed back.

What questions do you have about the issue that the cartoon does not answer?

I kind of already mentioned this, but why is student talking to the teacher about a pay cut over what appears to look like a homework assignment, when the merit pay if more based on the standardized test scores.

DIARY OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER!: June 2012. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2013, from http://oldschoolteach.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html#.UV80RRjR2Ap

The Uncertain Impact of Merit Pay for Teachers - NYTimes.com. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2013, from http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/the-uncertain-impact-of-merit-pay-for-teachers/

U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). The Cartoon Analysis Checklist (p. 1).