Podcasts

Podcasts.... Yet another technology to simplify things. This refers back to my other blog where I 'shared my concern' about new gadgets and what or how we did things in the 'good old days of yesteryear s'...

Personally, I know its a great tool. It does definitely simplify things where you have a world of knowledge at your fingertips. I personally know a few who use it regularly, and swore by it. And I am sure it is a great and valuable tool in the classroom as well.... Notes, lectures, projects -- the list is endless...

The problem I have is using tech for the sake of it.... I mean there is already enough as it is.... Time is already limited not to mention the attention span of kids. Do we really want to add to their list of making an effort to engage in another medium for the sake of knowledge? We are just at the tip of the iceberg as they say. Where do we draw the line? How do we know enough is enough? What a semester of classes, how much time or space do we really have to add this or that, or do away with this or that? Does the added technology really enhance the learning experience or just take away the learning time?

In business, it is often said lets cut to the chase.... Yesterday, we told our kids look, 2 multiplied by 2 is 4. Learn it, use it and apply it. Thats it. End of story. Today, we have to first take out our technology, literally plug it in, not to mention the kids themselves, and then we move on to the actual learning...

I am just playing the devils advocate, but sometimes I do wonder, is it really worth it all? Or are we loosing the essence of it all, the teaching and learning, while adapting all these new high gadgets and what not.....