Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Introduction!

Greetings fellow bloggers and followers! Since this is the start of a new blog, it is our intention to give a rationale as to why our blog is focused on implementing digital media, including video games, film, websites, etc. into the classroom.


1. We are awesome: This fact is irrefutable and suggestions as to otherwise will not be tolerated.


2. As a mixed group of both technology skeptics and enthusiasts (Collins & Halverson, 2009), we feel it necessary to provide a forum to discuss both the potential pitfalls and benefits of using technology in the classroom through our individual blog posts.


3. The media listed above are multi-billion dollar industries which account for the majority of our students’ spent free time. Therefore, instead of falling prey to the familiar “[games] are entertaining and motivating. School can’t compete with that” (Gee, 2004) argument, we are attempting to explore the ways around that thinking; eg., what are the obstacles in implementing video games, film etc. and how can we overcome them?


4. Perhaps most practically, this blog will serve as a means to confront our own thinking about this topic and, hopefully, will allow a growth of individual knowledge unprecedented in the blogosphere. Side note: it will also allow us to use words like blogosphere without getting beaten up.


With that said, get your seats in the upright position and your tray tables up because learning will soon be inevitable!


References:


Collins, A. & Halverson, R. (2009). Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology: the Digital Revolution and Schooling in America. New York: Teachers College Press.


Gee, J. (2004). Situated Language and Learning: A Critique of Traditional Schooling (Literacies). New York: Routledge.

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