Generative Technology in the Classroom

Internet technology has greatly changed over the past few years, becoming more user friendly. For example, in the past, one had to know how to write code, such as html, before posing online. However, with the inception of generative technology, or pages that can be added to by multiple people with relative ease, the face of personal web pages has changed. Almost anyone can access the wide variety of choices and add their own two-cents about whatever topic they chose. Sites such as You Tube, blooger.com, wikispaces, and wikipedia are only a few examples. As Dr. Hofer described in his podcast, students have already embraced this technology, with more than half of 12-17 year-olds writing their own blogs and editing them weekly. In addition, Dr. Hofer explained how useful, when used in moderation and appropriately, this technology can be in the classroom.

As a teacher, I could see how these websites could be very helpful in the classroom. Students have a tendency to forget their homework, or forget to write it down, and a course website or wiki site would be an excellent way to help. For example, with a course wiki, all the students can subscribe to it, and I could post the assignments for the day and any worksheets, etc. In addition, I would give parents the address as well, so they could help their children with their homework and make sure the work is getting done. The websites also have great educational purposes as well; videos and pictures of topics being discussed are readily available and can be used to present the material in a variety of ways. For example, in a history class, when discussing WWII, we could find the propaganda videos that were played before movies during the war. In addition, students can use the websites for projects; they could make a website about a historical topic of their choice, and they would need to check their facts since it is being published to the world, or we could set parameters so only the class could see it. Similarly, if each student made a page about a chapter in the textbook, the pages could be used as study guides for tests. The 613 social studies blog is also a really great example of how to use generative technology in the classroom. It provides notes, information about the topics they are covering, and most importantly it connects the students with each other by linking the students' pages to the homepage. I also like how the teacher encouraged the students to post over vacations and to respond to each other. This really created a community feeling and I think that it would really promote student involvement and excitement, and encourage the students to write more and write more thoughtful responses because they know their peers are reading what they write.

There are many advantages to using this technology, especially now that they are so easy to use. They get students involved and motivated to produce something for a wider audience, and it is a more hands-on approach to learning. However, when overused, these websites loss their appeal and are no longer as effective, thus, just as any other new form of technology, they must be used in moderation.