Introduction and Thoughts on Media Technology
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Dearest readers,
Firstly I'd like to extend a massive welcome to my blog! As this is my first post on here, I shall start with an introduction. My name is Kukie Antoun and I am a double major, my focuses being in English Literature and Business Law. I have always had a passion for Literature, and a specific interest in Ancient Literature. I am currently on the route to Law School, however I aspire to become a Law Professor after a few years serving as an Immigration Attorney. As someone who grew up in Lebanon during the war, I have vowed to grow up and help individuals in countries overrun with war escape for a chance of a better life. I believe one of the most important jobs in the world is the role of an educator.
Now for the million dollar question, is media technology effective in a teaching environment? I do think it serves a crucial purpose for broadening the knowledge of students, however only when it is correctly used. Instructors who do implement media technology in their courses should have a clear idea on how to use it effectively. An example that I personally encountered was a professor who created an online blog but the formatting was not done properly, so viewing the blog and reading the lectures was increasingly difficult. A very effective example of efficient media technology use is when I took a Major American novel course with Dr. Linda Overman at California State University, Northridge. Dr. Overman efficiently constructed an online syllabus that was very easy to navigate, was extremely informative, and left no room for confusion.
Effective use of media technology by instructors has proved to be beneficial. I think media technology aids students in retaining information as the younger generation is more familiar with navigating technology. I believe that media technology should play a role in education, particularly in our day and age when it surrounds us at every turn.
However, I do believe instructors should use it responsibly. I conducted an interview at Pasadena High School with a student who had a lot to say about media technology in her classroom. I learned that most instructors have resorted to fully using technology in their classrooms.
Junior, Isabella Sanchez expressed her dismay by stating "They just give us chromebooks and call it a day, my AP English class is fully online and we all just use chromebooks."
I asked her if she would prefer a dual system, with pen and paper as well as chromebooks and she responded
"Yes, this is like every student's dream right now. I don't want to stare at a stupid screen all day"
So is there a middle ground?
The answer is yes, although it is easier in our day and age to do everything technologically, there should be an equal distribution between classic pen and paper and technology. This way, students don't feel burnt out or overstimulated.
Hi Kukie!
ReplyDeleteI agree when you said that media technology is extremely effective when it is organized and brought in to show students how to use media technology appropriately. I personally have been in multiple classes where they have shown TED Talks, and it has proven, at least in my experience, to be very well-received! We have started a class by watching a fifteen-minute TED Talk and spent the rest of the class having an in-depth conversation about the video. Media technology has its limits, and I understand that, but the media has so many topics that can be brought into a class that can help students be engaged in learning. It sucks that some schools stick a computer in students' faces to get out of actually teaching. Although in some cases, it's beneficial to incorporate media into the learning experience because it can give the mind a more solid understanding of topics.
I wrote this comment!
DeleteHi Kukie,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post and learning more about your background. Wishing you so so much success on your legal journey! I was actually pursuing law school myself at one point and even took the LSAT, so I completely understand the mix of excitement and pressure that comes with preparing for that path. If you ever want advice, tips, or even study resources, I’d be more than happy to share what worked for me.
I agree with you that media technology can be a really useful tool in classrooms, but only when it’s used with purpose. Like you, I’ve seen both sides. Some teachers are very intentional and create online resources that are organized, easy to follow, and actually enhance learning. Dr. Overmans Syllabus is *chef's kiss*. On the other hand, I’ve also had teachers who just post everything online without much thought about how students will interact with it. When that happens, instead of making learning easier, it feels like it’s one more barrier to get through.
I especially liked how you included Isabella’s perspective! Her comment about not wanting to “stare at a stupid screen all day” really stood out to me because it’s soooo relatable. Too much screen time definitely causes burnout, and it can take away from a student’s motivation to actually engage with the material.
In the end, I think media technology does have a valuable role, but like you said, it has to be implemented responsibly. When teachers use it to support their teaching instead of replacing it altogether, students really can get the best of both worlds.
I really enjoyed reading your post, and I think your future goals are very interesting and wish you great luck!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that media technology is most effective when it is used intentionally and with clear purpose. I’ve also seen situations where technology actually made learning more confusing rather than easier, especially when assuming all students have the same digital literacy. I think we have all been in a situation as some point where we've struggled against a school or university online system, or felt absolutely clueless reading instructions from a professor for a new online service. However, I can understand the need for us to continue to teach and learn how to adapt to and utilize these digital resources.
In my own experience, I have seen how technology can have both positive and negative effects at the same time. For instance, some students use I-pads and tablets for drawing to create their own stories or illustrate ideas, which they often share with their classmates. This allows the students who struggle with writing or verbal communication to be able to participate more effectively. However, I’ve also noticed that when students rely too heavily on these devices, they can quickly become frustrated or when the technology isn’t available. They can start to lose interest and patience for things like drawing on real paper or strengthening other ways of communication.
In the end, I agree that there needs to be a middle ground where technology is used as a tool, not a replacement for traditional teaching.