Reflecting on What I Know: Chapter 3
1) When it
comes to technology tools, the demand is high and the change is constant. New tools are invented every day. It is important to learn about different
tools, even amongst the changes, because they are often connected. New technology tools are often an upgrade of
something that was previously used.
Engineers are continuously looking to create a smaller, faster version
of an old technology. Through the use of
these tools, technology skills are acquired that are helpful within new
products.
2) In today’s techno-savvy society, mobile
devices can do the same things as most desktop computers; however teachers are
still using both. Mobile devices are
often designed with certain specific features in mind. There are devices that are designed to play
music, devices designed to record photos and videos, devices to read on,
devices for navigation, and then there are devices that do all of the
above. So why do teachers need
desktops? One example is the iPad;
although it has amazing features and is basically a handheld computer, to
actually be able to use it, it must first be plugged into a computer to sync
itself with iTunes.
In the school setting,
desktop usage is still consistently high.
Desktops are often found throughout schools, even though they may be
ancient. Although these schools may have
new technologies, they are not getting rid of these working devices. They can still be used to access the Internet,
type papers, download software, and be used when the abundance of new
technology dwindles. Another reason
teachers use desktops more than mobile devices is because of their familiarity with
them. Many teachers, like most people,
are more comfortable completing tasks using a familiar method, rather than
attempting to learn something new.
3) The use
of digital devices in comparison with the cost to purchase these devices used
to be imbalanced; however as the capabilities of these devices have increased,
their cost has become less significant. Digital
cameras/recorders, audio players, video players, and other technology devices
used to be an extravagance that had specific, minimal use. Now, these devices have been placed into
tablets and other digital devices, making the extravagance worth the
money. People are no longer spending
money on a device that has one function; they are now investing their money in
devices that have multiple functions, which makes the cost seem more
justified.
