Horizon Project Reaction

I think that cloud computing already has and will continue to make a huge impact in the field of education. By allowing students and teachers to use open-source, cloud based applications, teachers, schools, and students can have access to unprecedented educational tools. For instance, whereas concept mapping software such as inspiration is wonderful to map out the contents of a narrative, cloud computing sites such as mindmeister allow free access to the same type of material. There are also sites where students and teachers can create movies, alter audio files, and do many other activities that previously would have cost money. With cloud computing, students who do not have the money to own a Mac-Book with i-movies can create the same kind of product for free on the web.

On the other hand, I am inherently wary of the use of smart objects in education. Regular objects can cheaply and easily become computers of a sort. The potential danger here is two-fold. Technology has a place in the classroom and in student’s lives, but technology does not have to be integrated into every object we possess. Technology has glitches, and the more items that use technology, the more likely we are to experience these glitches. Technology is not perfect, which is why we need non-technological backup plans when we teach. I see the relevance of books as smart objects, but I also think this sort of technology could easily be used to track useless data. Just as this technology is now used to track packages, it might just as easily track the movements of each students who has a library book checked out. Personally, I don’t want my teaching to be observed by the computer chip in my desk. This may be a drastic or even paranoid reaction, but the less technology can track my students and me, the better.

Horizon Report Reading

I feel that online communication tools will be a great addition to teaching problem solving skills in the math classroom.  Students can work together with students from around the world to discuss how to solve a problem, where to gather data, and when more justification for reasoning is necessary.  One example from the report is a Salem, OR school that does this in a math scene investigation format, which sounds like a great way to get kids interested in math.

Using mobiles in schools could be potentially problematic.  If students are allowed to have and use their cell phone during class, we have to ensure that use is monitored and regulated to prevent cheating on tests and quizzes or other unapproved collaboration on assignments like searching online for the solution to a problem on your assignment.  While this would prove the resourcefulness of the student, they may not actually know how to solve the problem.  Similarly, what will schools do for students who do not have their own mobile device -- are they going to provide them to all students so features are the same?  I see a lot of issues to manage with this technology, but if worked out, this could also help students learn in a new way.