My name is Art. I'm a freelance film/video writer and director who has not been getting much work lately, so I've begun my back-up plan which brings me here to CSUN. Currently I'm taking the necessary classes in order to get an english single subject waiver.
So I don't think media technology should be completely abolished from the classroom, but there is a part of me that thinks the current trend to integrate is going a bit too far, so I thought I would play the devil's advocate. Here are some reasons:
1. There are always technological hiccups. I know that our class is meant to fix this problem to a certain extent, but I've never been in a classroom where there were not problems getting the technology to work. Whether it is the professor who has been utilizing the classroom for years, or the new student who has decided to do a powerpoint slideshow to spruce up their presentation, there are just too many x-factors involved because of the wide range of equipment and just from human error. Delays and crashes seem inevitable.
2. Speaking of powerpoint presentations to spruce up a discussion or lecture, can anyone give me an example of a time where that was actually the case? Powerpoint to me is the muzak of presentations. It's a way to put a sugar coating on what may be deemed to some to be dry material. However, powerpoint is not the answer. Adding some soft jazz music and pretty pictures of waterfalls will not get your audience involved, the speaker/lecturer is the one who should do that. Instead of wasting time on google trying to find video re-enactments of your subject matter, maybe lecturers should work on their oratory skills.
3. My last point (or argument, I guess) is that maybe we don't need technology in the classroom whatsoever. In fact, maybe the classroom should serve as a respite, a sanctuary that embraces the ideas of conversation and storytelling without 21st century technological devices. Don't these kids get inundated with constant digital stimulus outside of the classroom? From the very moment class is dismissed the ipods go on and the text messaging begins. I would argue in order to develop these adolescents into well rounded adults it is important to keep the technological aids to a minimum so that they might begin to embrace the merits of good old fashioned listening and discussion.
So those are my thoughts. Do you agree or disagree? Please let me know.
Thanks,
Art
