Reflection #10: Technology & Learning

     This weeks readings focused on technology in the classroom.  I really liked the SAND (Search, Analyze, Note Details) strategy mentioned in BBR Chapter 10.  When using the internet for research in the classroom, it is so important that students know the appropriate websites to use.  As this chapter explains, "the potential for students to retrieve and believe misinformation on the Internet is high" (Bean, Baldwin & Readence, 2012, p. 181).  I can still remember being taught to check the credibility of a website when I was in high school.  This is an important skill that I now take for granted.  I am not sure if I will ever need to teach my students this skill, as a mathematics teacher; but I will be prepared to teach students how to find the right websites if the situation arises.
     I also found the Bauerlein & Howe program, "The Millennials: The Dumbest Generation or the Next Great Generation" to be intriguing.  Although this generation is very tech savvy, they do not seem to know as much without this technology.  I know working with my own Algebra I students, they are completely dependent on their calculators.  Anything the calculator says has got to be the correct answer, in my students' opinions.  They do not stop to think about whether or not their answer makes sense.  I know when I was in school, we had to memorize all of our basic arithmetic.   I do not believe students are held to this standard today.  In fact, I recently had a student need to use a calculator to do 10-10.  That completely blew my mind.  Technology is great but the human brain is the most valuable tool.  After watching this video and hearing both sides, I am still not very optimistic about our next generation.  Being an educator, I hate to say that I am not optimistic about this generation.  This is just based on my own experience with these kids.