Comments on: Tool or Toy? The Blurred Line of a Computer http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer Educator Consultant Author Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: jasonmkern http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5247 jasonmkern Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:30:08 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5247 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">"you know that look kids give when an adult is trying to tell them something they just don’t get" http://bit.ly/5t6CnD</span></span> "you know that look kids give when an adult is trying to tell them something they just don’t get" http://bit.ly/5t6CnD

]]> By: Chad Lehman http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5246 Chad Lehman Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:55:57 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5246 I hope I work in a setting where a laptop is as much a part of a student's toolkit as a pencil is. Unfortunately, I think it's going to be a while until I'm in such a situation. I hope I work in a setting where a laptop is as much a part of a student’s toolkit as a pencil is. Unfortunately, I think it’s going to be a while until I’m in such a situation.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5245 Ryan Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:17:10 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5245 I don't think this is any different than radical technology movements of the past. The telephone became a part of us in terms of communication. Why go back to the days of 'snail mail' when you can get a direct response? As a we evolve as a society we grow more and more dependent on the available resources. We've adapted to the functions and benefits of technology in learning so much that education without computers seems less valuable for our students. It's a good thing that they've become a part of us. Let's just make sure that educators are promoting it in the right way. I don’t think this is any different than radical technology movements of the past. The telephone became a part of us in terms of communication. Why go back to the days of ‘snail mail’ when you can get a direct response?

As a we evolve as a society we grow more and more dependent on the available resources. We’ve adapted to the functions and benefits of technology in learning so much that education without computers seems less valuable for our students.

It’s a good thing that they’ve become a part of us. Let’s just make sure that educators are promoting it in the right way.

]]> By: Jeff Utecht http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5244 Jeff Utecht Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:18:48 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5244 I like your thinking, and as cloud computing becomings more mainstream I think we'll see the masses start to believe this. Personally I think I'm already there. My iPhone is a connection device, my computer a connection device....they are portals into my world all of which resides at this point in the cloud. E-mail, Banking, Calendars, To-do lists, photos, videos, etc everything I do is in the cloud and the machine, no matter how large or small is my connection device. At this point I think there are very few of us that see it this way...but I'm totally on board with you Nancy it is a portal to the places I need to go. I like your thinking, and as cloud computing becomings more mainstream I think we’ll see the masses start to believe this. Personally I think I’m already there. My iPhone is a connection device, my computer a connection device….they are portals into my world all of which resides at this point in the cloud. E-mail, Banking, Calendars, To-do lists, photos, videos, etc everything I do is in the cloud and the machine, no matter how large or small is my connection device. At this point I think there are very few of us that see it this way…but I’m totally on board with you Nancy it is a portal to the places I need to go.

]]> By: Jeff Utecht http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5243 Jeff Utecht Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:14:41 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5243 This is the issue....once you start actually using the technology, trusting the connections, you feel lost without them. I went three weeks without a cell phone or a data plan on my iPhone this Christmas....must frustrating three weeks I've had in a long time. I'm just so use to accessing what I need when I need it that to all of a sudden not to have it actually caused me lost time and productivity. This is the issue….once you start actually using the technology, trusting the connections, you feel lost without them. I went three weeks without a cell phone or a data plan on my iPhone this Christmas….must frustrating three weeks I’ve had in a long time. I’m just so use to accessing what I need when I need it that to all of a sudden not to have it actually caused me lost time and productivity.

]]> By: Brad Stutz http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5242 Brad Stutz Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:32:02 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5242 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Tool or Toy? The Blurred Line of a Computer | The Thinking Stick: Andy Torris is back writing again after the New ... http://bit.ly/6rsGNd</span></span> Tool or Toy? The Blurred Line of a Computer | The Thinking Stick: Andy Torris is back writing again after the New … http://bit.ly/6rsGNd

]]> By: Andrew Torris http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5241 Andrew Torris Thu, 21 Jan 2010 06:18:05 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5241 Thanks for the pingback Jeff.... We just did a survey of our teachers on the technology initiative (something I will write about later)... one my favorite comments was.... "Technology isn't just a 'bell and whistle' - it has significantly changed the very nature of my teaching." The teacher was responding to the question- "Since the introduction of the computers to the students in your classroom how has your teaching changed?" Interesting huh?? Andy Thanks for the pingback Jeff….

We just did a survey of our teachers on the technology initiative (something I will write about later)… one my favorite comments was….

“Technology isn’t just a ‘bell and whistle’ – it has significantly changed the very nature of my teaching.”

The teacher was responding to the question- “Since the introduction of the computers to the students in your classroom how has your teaching changed?”

Interesting huh??

Andy

]]> By: Charlie A. Roy http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5240 Charlie A. Roy Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:03:46 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5240 Great post. Can't say I ever enjoyed long walks in the park with my math book. We started two years ago giving our teachers laptops. A good chunk bitched about having to use them. A year later when they turned them in for some updating and were without them for a week they acted like the world was coming to the end. Great post. Can’t say I ever enjoyed long walks in the park with my math book. We started two years ago giving our teachers laptops. A good chunk bitched about having to use them. A year later when they turned them in for some updating and were without them for a week they acted like the world was coming to the end.

]]> By: Jennifer Pacelli http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5239 Jennifer Pacelli Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:40:21 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5239 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Tool or Toy? The Blurred Line of a Computer http://bit.ly/6i0tNa</span></span> Tool or Toy? The Blurred Line of a Computer http://bit.ly/6i0tNa

]]> By: John Turner http://www.thethinkingstick.com/tool-or-toy-the-blurred-line-of-a-computer/#comment-5238 John Turner Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:25:19 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1257#comment-5238 Jeff Thanks for yet another interesting blog. As usual I agree with most of what you say; although unlike you I have fond memories of working through Maths books at school [I know, we all have strange quirks of nature that makes human diversity such a wonderful thing] Anyway, like you I see my computer as more than a tool and don't like the term 21st century learning (but have yet not recognised an alternative to encompass all that is going on which also respects the traditions education is charged with passing on) Finally, the introduction of 1:1 here in my school has seen noticeable student attachment to their laptops and productive learning on a range of fronts. It's not perfect (what is) but where the task is engaging and of learning worth the results are impressive. This is where the teacher is a critical change agent. All the best and hope to catch-up with you soon. John Jeff
Thanks for yet another interesting blog.
As usual I agree with most of what you say; although unlike you I have fond memories of working through Maths books at school [I know, we all have strange quirks of nature that makes human diversity such a wonderful thing]
Anyway, like you I see my computer as more than a tool and don’t like the term 21st century learning (but have yet not recognised an alternative to encompass all that is going on which also respects the traditions education is charged with passing on)
Finally, the introduction of 1:1 here in my school has seen noticeable student attachment to their laptops and productive learning on a range of fronts. It’s not perfect (what is) but where the task is engaging and of learning worth the results are impressive. This is where the teacher is a critical change agent.
All the best and hope to catch-up with you soon.
John

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