Lessons
or
What I Have Learned and What May Happen Next
Teaching with technology takes a lot of motivation and I do not
really know where mine comes from. The time and effort required is
worth it, I think. However, technology is not and never will be a
panacea. Teaching changed after the introduction of moveable type and
it is changing now as the Internet matures. But, teaching is still
teaching, whether engaging in Socratic dialogues or corresponding via
e-mail. Teachers are still that committed band of individuals
striving to push back the veils of ignorance and bring forth the
light of truth. Education the key to the entire enterprise,
technology is just one of the methods.
Distant Lessons from Technology (1976-1990)
- First Year
- Handling chalk and erasers
- Spelling near the board
- Pacing was automatic
- Grade books
- Later
- Handling the overhead projector
- Dealing with hundreds of acetates
- Later still
- Converting to word processed acetates
- Adding computer-generated images on acetates
- Sharing desktop computer with entire class by
appointment
Near Past Lessons from Technology (1991-1996)
- Computer Lab
- Hacked first week of operation
- Training students to use applications
- Word processing
- Statistics
- Graphics
- HyperCard
- Early implementation of hypermedia
- Nearly unlimited potential uses
- Free (at first)
- First courses
- Not easy to learn
- Like rolling your own PowerPoint from scratch
- Internet
- Like discovering a new world
- Connecting to TIPS, PSYCH-EXPTS, and OCC
- Learning from other teachers worldwide
- First experience of Internet as drinking from
firehose
- Remember Gopher?
- Mosaic and the Web
- Murphy's Law
- If something can go wrong it will.
- Three Laws of Computing
- Back up, back up, back up
- Memphis
- Thunderstorm knocks out network in Nashville
- Bethany
- Faulty electric receptacle causes panic
- Hot Springs
- Assurances of phone jack in room false
- Simpler Really is Better
- Black fonts on white backgrounds
- Speed counts
- Use intelligible file names
- Solve Lots of Simple Problems
- Duplicate common materials instead of trying to make one
set serve all needs
Recent Past Lessons from Technology (1997-2001)
- Databases and Dynamic Pages
- Easy way to handle updating
- Web Editors Save Time and Effort
- But, there is no free lunch, all require time and effort
- Distance Education is not Easy nor Does it Save Money
- Faculty Require Support
Future Directions
- Problems to Solve
- Bandwidth
- Audio and video are awaiting greater availability of
broadband
- Reliable and fast access for home use
- Copyright
- Control of content
- Micropayments
- Faculty reluctance
- Security
- Hackers, crackers, viruses
- Privacy
- Bright Spots
- Wireless
- Lower prices and more bang for buck
- Students more sophisticated
- Faculty empowerment
- Peer to Peer networking
- Internet appliances
Back to Main Page
This page was created 1/27/01 and its address
is:
http://peace.saumag.edu/faculty/kardas/drury/lessons.html