Wilson, Jalambo, Buzun-Miller, McGuire

First Real Blog Post

Our students have changed radically, it is true. Currently, most of our teachers have meet that standard for adjusting instruction for those students. I believe because the shift of the how we all have grown up. The Presnsky article itself is dated in 2001. This would be when the beginning baby boomers started to retire.  A person born in 1940s would have turned 60. A teacher can retire with 30 years at 47 or 30 years of teaching in the Michigan pension system at any age after 47. (Of course this depends on whatever school pension system they choose) . So it is safe to say, that people of the Baby Boomer generation 1946 to 1965, have or are about to retire. These are people who have not necessarily grown up with changing technology, to understand it, they had to make some conscience choices to be involved in it. In the later generations, such as mine- I am a gen-xer. It is more of a conscience choice to NOT be involved. It has been or is nearly impossible to not be forced or prodded to accept the digital world, thus it is easier to adjust our teaching practices around the existing digital natives. I would say that on some levels the Ellis Island is closing for the digital immigrants. Our current teachers are the digital natives.  

The Prensky article moves to discuss "should digital natives learn the old ways or should their digital immigrants learn the new? " I would jump to say that this digital media is so engrained in our culture that it is a way of life.  Just as the article makes connections to cultural immigration I would say it is the same for technology. I have even noticed on social media- when Facebook began and altered its platforms to meet various needs, people would complain at every change. EVERY change. Now, when there are changes or updates- I read more from my friends not of complaints but - where is this now? How do I do this? It seems there is now an acceptance that technology will be updated. It will change.  This goes along with Prensky's article "Not-so smart (or not-so flexible) immigrants...." theory. 

As I go on to the article I have found that parts of his article itself is outdated because of my above theory. At the time, most teachers were digital immigrants- now- the majority of teachers have at least embraced the new way or grew up at digital natives themselves. 

The McKenzie article presents as lots of articles I read that are either for or against republican/democrats policies. It really was amusing on the levels of presentation in this article. 

As I read through this things that jumped out at me- our students learn with technology- but because of various reasons, one being poverty don't necessarily have access to it. Schools all don't have the same levels of technological resources. So they do need to work and think different to ensure a quality educational programming is meet for all levels of student access. This is particularly true for students in my building. Parents have cell devices to access email and games. But don't have laptops/computers to access other types of technology. 

I have found in my current school our access to technology has determined our teaching ability/learning abilities. It isn't a matter of can or won't. It is what is available. 

Hello, My name is Dannielle McGuire, I am a principal of an elementary school, K-3 in Shelby, Mi. Shelby is on the West side of the state and a wonderful place to be. I have had an interesting last couple of years and managed to keep plodding along in my graduate studies.  I have had a twitter account for quite a long time. So a lot of the things that I have written are retweets, etc.

https://twitter.com/SammyPants2004

I still am confused as to when in, twitter, to retweet or quote tweet and what exactly is the difference?
I do however, really enjoy Jimmy Kimmel's Celebrities reading mean tweets. It is a great way for our students to get an idea that there is someone on the other end of the computer comment. Or a great way for kids to learn to be really mean and they could get on Jimmy Kimmel. Not sure yet. :)

I find online learning fascinating and I am hoping to bring focus to the need for internet resources and programming in the classroom.  I am interested in using the blog forum for classroom purposes. I do really enjoy blogging and reading blogs. I look forward to reading everyone's work!

djmm