Journal 1

Finding New Ways to Connect: By Eleanor Yang Su of the Union Tribune

Technology is certainly an evergrowing trend in the classroom, and our generation in general. The fine majority of college students are well equipped with a cell phone, labtop, and more, making instant messanging, social networking sites (myspace/facebook/etc.), music, and texting all the more accessible and relevant. Many professors in Cal State San Marcos ask that labtops be turned off because they figure students are abusing their internet capabilities to play games and check sites. This is partially true, but at the same time, many students use the technology to help themselves, especially with taking notes, as this generation has incredible typing skills, and can put something on a computer much faster than they could ever write it. And while I find most students here are disliking programs such as webct, more and more classes are using it as the basis for delivering and grading work. Clickers are becoming a popular way of testing student knowledge in the classroom, and I have heard that our own Physics program has started using them. With San Marcos being so new, I'm suprised we don't have more technology, other than webCT or our school e-mail. I know we have unique sites and such, and that all the information is there, but it is "the old e-mail way". I know at orientation now, we've opened up an instant messaging system for students to use when they have questions. It's already been used numerous times, and orientations haven't even started! It's amazing the wildfire that techonology can bring. Do I think clickers in the classroom are a good idea? Yes, I think they can help teachers test and track student knowledge, as well as not put students on the spot, which can be viewed positively or negatively. Do I think services such as instant messaging should be added to the arsenal of information we continue to grow? Yes, and I don't see any reason for that to change. As I stated earlier, we just started an AIM system and it's working great. Perhaps even a myspace someday... only time will tell.