Blog Post #10

Part I: Cartoon Explanation
Having just finished making my book trailer, and having to borrow a friends Mac to do it, I think this cartoon could be about computers. My friend and I had a conversation about Macs and PCs and some of the pros and cons of each. The main thing that I have against Macs is that they cost so much. I think others feel the same way and I think this cartoon could be depicting that. The character on the left could represent PCs and the character on the right Macs. I like Macs and I think the software they come with is great but I just can't get over the price. I just can't justify paying two to three times more for a computer. I just wish that Macs were more comparable in price!
Part II:
Author: John Spencer
Title: The Con Academy
John Spencer is a very unique writer. I love his style and his careful use of sarcasm to make his point! In his post entitled Con Academy Spencer pokes fun at areas where our school system needs improvement. He specifically targets the way in which our school system goes about selecting and implementing educational programs and strategies. Spencer targets two areas in particular with his witty sarcasm. First he goes after the administrations focus on money. He believes, as do I, that just because something is free doesn't necessarily mean it is good. Unfortunately what a program costs is often the ultimate criteria for whether or not it gets used and if it is free so much the better regardless of its merit. The second thing Spencer is poking fun at is the common occurrence of administrators deliberately ignoring the advice of their teachers when it comes to the implementation of educational strategies. This often ties in directly with what a program costs. If the program is free many administrators have a tendency to overlook negative feedback or advice and focus more on saving their school money. I wonder what Mr. Spencer would have to say to those administrators who believe that the more an educational program or strategy costs the better it must be?
Part III: Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff! Please? by Scott McCleod
Reaction:
I absolutely loved Scott's satirical poem! I think he does a great job of portraying the struggle he faces getting teachers and administrators to accept technology as more than a convenience. I agree with him on almost all of the points he made with the exception of one. I think he doesn't give enough credence to parents and teachers fears of what students can get into on the internet that may be a negative impact. These are real fears and the news is full of stories of misled young people. I think the main problem is that parents and teachers don't know enough about technology and the internet. This lack of knowledge makes them feel out of control and they feel very leery of trusting something they don't totally understand. It also makes it difficult for them to trust someone who is promoting the internet and technology. It seems to me that the solution is to educate teachers and parents so they can play a more active role in their kids lives and not feel like they are on the outside looking in. By educating them you give them confidence in an area they previously felt inadequate in as well as giving parents commonality with their kids not to mention the unlimited possibilities for teachers both personally and in their classrooms.
Scott McCleod Bio:
Scott McLeod, is currently serving as the Director of Innovation for Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency 8 in Iowa. He is an associate professor at the University of Kentucky and is on leave from that position. Dr. McLeod founded the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the nation’s only academic center dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators. He is the co-creator of the video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens). He has received numerous national awards for his technology leadership work, from the cable industry, Phi Delta Kappa, the National School Boards Association, and the Center for Digital Education. Dr. McLeod blogs regularly and his blogs include Dangerously Irrelevant, Education Recoded and The Huffington Post. He is also an author who just completed his first book entitled What School Leaders Need to Know About Digital Technologies and Social Media.
Scott McCleod is a very thought provoking writer and makes a great deal of sense when it comes to technology and its role in our classrooms and preparing our students for the future. If this is an area you would like more information about then please check Scott's website out at the following link!
Scott McCleod