Week 4: Chapters 3 & 4 : How do increasing computer power, decreasing size, and wireless communications make technology-enhanced classrooms more flexible? What is a virtual environment? What potential does it hold for education?
First, by increasing computer power is often times synonymous with increasing the speed which allows the teacher more time to teach and less time waiting on the computer to boot up, search the web, or produce results. Decreasing size allows the teacher more room in classroom for the students and other needed resources. Often times the classrooms are to capacity with the students alone. The addition of computers need not be cumbersome, but rather convenient as they were intended to be. The use of wireless connections opens schools up to bigger and often better opportunities. Wireless connections allows the teachers the freedom to be connected to the web at almost any location within the classroom. So students don't necessarily have to be seated at a certain computer located in a specific location in the classroom. Students can utilize laptops in the classroom with wireless connection while reducing the space needed for a PC and CPU.
Wireless connections can also be connected to a main server which allows students to be connected to and share with others within the school as well as in the school district. The server allows for teachers and students to be connected to one another and it does not limit their access to one computer. As long as the teachers or students are able to access the server, they would be able to access any saved files on the server. Many schools are going to the wireless option because it does allow for the freedom of both teachers and students not to be tide down to a central workstation. Wireless combine with networking allows for the sharing of software, applications, and information. The only real downside to the wireless connection with the server is the security risks. Wireless connection is more susceptible to security breach than the traditional Internet connection.
Moving on to the virtual environment. Virtual environment is "the creation of a digital environment in which you can interact". Virtual reality "can range from very sophisticated to relatively simple process of stitching together successive images to create a 3D space". These images allows the teachers as well as the students the opportunities to experience things and places they may never visit in their lifetime. Virtual reality can help prepare students for situations in which they may experience in their future careers. The military along with NASA now uses virtual reality in their training processes. Virtual reality holds endless possibilities for the future.
Blog Reflection Week Ten (Website)
14 years ago
Your reflection included every aspect of the question. It would be easier to read if you separate your paragraphs. I think that I mentioned this before. From the design view, people don't like to read a paper filled with text. They need some white space to rest their eyes.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the points in your reflection, you explained everything in a very clear and concise way. I think saving space in the classroom for the students is a big plus. I think students perform better in a comfortable environment, which having more space to move around would definitely create that environment. Also the extra space provides room for a smooth transition from one project to the next for students. For example: Students can move from working huddled in a circle for group work to back to their original seating quicker and with less disruptions if they have more room to move around. Also the use of wireless internet is a big plus in my eyes. Like you said, having the freedom to work on the computer anywhere in the classroom is very beneficial to the teachers and the students. The concept of a virtual environment sounds very high-tech and interesting, I just wish more schools had the budget to include such great technology in their schools.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I am just amazed at how fast technology is progressing. Even though wireless communications is not all that knew, it certainly changes the potential of the classroom just as you have said. While there are many things to be worried about, such as viruses, and web surfing at inappropriate times, the possibility of each student having a computer in class, without affeting the design of the classroom is certainly beneficial to education.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with your statement that "Virtual reality holds endless possibilities for the future." The only virtual reality I have seen is real estate (looking for a new home), but it was so much better than just looking at a few pictures.