In my point of view, the technology brings in a remarkable change in education. Not only does it improve the education quality, but also provides a much more wider system which let people share the academic around the world. Comparing with modern education, 50 years ago, those students would not have the chance to take DE course. They could not just easily click the drop box button and then finish submitting their assignments online or they could not have chance to see the instructor sharing the video online. Fortunately, technology helps these things become available today. I think we all would like to thank all scientists, who devote their lives to developing the technology in education. Especially for international students, like me, I can acquire the same knowledge as Canadian students through the distance education without going aboard.
Technology tools in education
(1) Laptop and mobile device
This video introduced the ideas of Dallas ISD that uses the laptop to replace the traditional black wall in order to let students learn the knowledge everywhere. Meanwhile, they also introduced the new innovation-Archos to replace the teacher and IPOD. Students can review the audio, video or even have lessons by using Archos. I think the most important aspects where these technologies improved in education are stimulating the global learning and increasing the simulations and storytelling abilities through multimedia. With the technological development, people can acquire the knowledge globally. Global learning can shape students more diversified. It has let students become global citizens who have the global perspectives to think issue diversity. On the other hand, it also has apparent defects. These devices cannot ensure kids whether real acquire the knowledge because it let students have an independent study environment. Moreover, kids have relative low self-control ability, so it’s hard to see the kids use these devices appropriately without teachers and parents’ check.
(2) Communication tools in schools This video introduced that the Twitter has became a tool that professor use it to test students. One education professor asks her students to join the Twitter community in order to let them tweet their weekly reading discussion. Twitter is a very popular communication tool among the young. I think the reason why professors choose Twitter is that they want students to set up a learning network to share what they learned from academic and engage them in the course. However, Twitter also has the limitation. It only can be texted 140 characters which are not enough for a long post. Meanwhile, some students may resist using social network so it’s hard for them to accept this new policy and even generate emotional resistance in this course.
Future teaching style
According to the Matt Britland, The article he posted on the Guardian indicates that traditional teaching style will be replaced by the mobile devices. There is no paper text and classroom anymore. Schools will need to have a swift and powerful internet connection rather than focus on the basic installation. Once school provides a fast internet connection, teachers, students, and the school facilities will connect together. Meanwhile, teachers could use Cloud to do assign, collect and mark the work online. Cloud has strong function; teachers also could upload the videos, documents resources, pictures, and podcasts. Students can acquire these resources everywhere through using their mobile devices to connect with Could. Furthermore, online instant teaching and discussion also will be accomplished through Cloud. It encourages students to autonomous learning and breaks the limitation of region and time. Students also could find out the most appropriate ways and resources to learn knowledge in the course. However, I think this kind of teaching style also contains some uncertainty factors. For most of teachers, they extremely care about whether their students engage in the course. Cloud owns variety of functions which can stimulate students’ interest but cannot completely focus students on the course. Meanwhile, I also doubt whether some course can be offered through Cloud, such as engineering, physical etc. These courses all requires manipulative ability, which is hard to be offered through DE. However, with the changing times, technology also will continue to be advanced. Therefore, we cannot imagine that what will happen in the future of technology in education. When applying this advanced technology, schools must notice the way must be evaluated and teachers and facilities must be trained in order to make sure the technology they adopt is useful.