This afternoon I was catching up on last night's Grey's Anatomy episode. In the event you aren't a fan, I'll spare you the details. However, one of the main subplots surrounded our Know-it-All Surgeon (KIA) in competition with an older Seasoned Surgeon. Essentially, Seasoned Surgeon was past her surgical prime and really needed to retire her scalpel.
What brought this all to a head was that the Seasoned Surgeon made a mistake. A mistake that KIA Surgeon surmised could have been avoided if she'd just used an arthroscopic technique. Arthroscopic techniques use lasers and small cameras inserted into the area of interest, rather than cutting you open. But Seasoned Surgeon was standing behind her surgical prowess - cutting the patient open. Arthroscopic techniques drastically reduce the healing time because they are far less intrusive than using a scalpel, and many surgeons will argue that the added technology allows you to be more precise.
That's the argument KIA Surgeon was making.
And then Seasoned Surgeon threw her a curve ball and asked her what would she do if she worked at a hospital that could not afford the technology.
KIA Surgeon was speechless. She had nothing.
Thankfully, most universities have the basics covered. Many classrooms have set ups that allow you to do show the PowerPoint slides we've slaved over, or at the very least have an overhead projector cart that we can wheel in to display our slides on.
But what if our classrooms didn't?
If we had to use the whiteboard (or chalkboard) what would you do?
How would it affect your class set up, your approach to the course content, your teaching?
The point is, I think that kind of situation would give all of us pause. We have been indoctrinated that the basic technological advances (since at one point, that's what they all were) are essential. Personally, I've given a few lectures (unintentionally) without "my slides" and it was rough. I was trying to simultaneously write on the board and read through my notes to ensure that I covered it all. My non-tech lectures were arguably effective, but perhaps not equally so.
KIA Surgeon came back at the end of the episode, equipped with a non-tech surgical approach. Seasoned Surgeon was impressed because KIA Surgeon was right. She had researched a non-tech approach that would have worked, AND illustrated that the technology would make the procedure easier. In some cases, better.
Would I make that same argument about my lecturing? Using PowerPoint (or any other technology) makes the learning situation easier for my students, but I wouldn't automatically infer it was better. Clearer? Yes. Organized? Yes? But better?
Maybe.
♥
2.20.2009
2.12.2009
Get it McDreamy!
I'm watching Grey's.
DVRd Grey's to be exact.
Did anyone else know neurologists were cowards by trade?
♥
DVRd Grey's to be exact.
Did anyone else know neurologists were cowards by trade?
♥
2.04.2009
Its the 4th of February
...do you know where your valentine is?
Just kidding. You know that was kinda funny. Just kinda though. Anyway, since its almost Thursday, now is an excellent time to start nailing down plans for the 14th. For all my single ladies (all my single ladies), I dont want to hear very much of your crap. Find someone to love on!
I'm sorry I didn't post a pic, even though I was thinking my default for Wednesdays (when I'm notoriously exhausted) would be to find one of the PHI and I. Nope, not even doing that tonight. Too tired. Just heading to bed. Yup. At nine twenty something.
♥
Just kidding. You know that was kinda funny. Just kinda though. Anyway, since its almost Thursday, now is an excellent time to start nailing down plans for the 14th. For all my single ladies (all my single ladies), I dont want to hear very much of your crap. Find someone to love on!
I'm sorry I didn't post a pic, even though I was thinking my default for Wednesdays (when I'm notoriously exhausted) would be to find one of the PHI and I. Nope, not even doing that tonight. Too tired. Just heading to bed. Yup. At nine twenty something.
♥
2.03.2009
2.02.2009
Living by the Girl Scout Law
{I started talking about this in response to a comment that Liz made last week and decided that I had some more to say about it.}
Today's I'd like to take a moment to talk about my mom. We'll call her MamaP.* MamaP was born in the 50s, has a bachelors and a masters degree (both completed in the 70s) and has spent a majority of her adult life working for a county agency. She's always volunteered her time and been active in the community. And for the last 14 years or so, she's had a computer in her home. But MamaP has a love-hate relationship with technology.
Just think, when MamaP was in college, if she wanted to meet with a professor, she had to go by their office (or call? idunno if they had phones in the offices). When she wanted to deliver information to her Brownie Girl Scout parents, in the early years she had to hand-write a newsletter** and then photocopy it. Despite owning computers at home (technically, they were mine), she wasnt forced to really sit and interact with one until she got one at her work desk in 1999. Most of the time they just stress her out. Especially when its time for some sort of upgrade. But she tries and over the years has made tons of progress. She even banks, makes reservations, and purchases online now. All skill she had to develop in her late 40s and 50s. There was definitely some resistance, and her progress was almost entirely an uphill battle. Lastly, MamaP usually requests help for new technology. Like the iPod she's planning to puchase when I'm home for Spring Break.
This isn't her fault. MamaP means well. She just doesn't have the experience I do with technology. Not that I'm a genius, but I (and most of my generation) have been interacting with computers and other forms of technology for as long as we can remember. And just think about our students. If you told them that back in the day, they wouldn't be able to email their professors about the exam that's scheduled to take place in 8 hours, they would probably blow a gasket. Do they remember having to learn without the Internet, WebCT and PowerPoint? Probably not.
Whats my point?
As some of us progress through our careers, we'll probably have the opportunity to deal with older learners. Not people who are resistant, but inexperienced. Just know that some of them may be like MamaP. They mean well, and are willing to try, but they often experience difficulty and request a good bit of assistance. They just haven't had the exposure that we have. Or the dependence. For them, email may still be considered a secondary form of communication. And we need to keep that in mind.
I know sometimes I take my experience for granted. Do you?
MamaP doesn't. To some degree, I'm sure its because I'm her only child. But she looks to me to trouble shoot problems with Word (over the phone!), advise her on websites to visit, and whatever other technological issue she thinks I may be able to help with. As a lifelong Girl Scout, she is using her resources wisely. Cant get mad at that.
...I may draw the line at Facebook though.
♥
*yes, her name does actually begin with a P, like mine.
**MamaP has elementary school teacher penmanship. You know that handwriting that was meant for a chalkboard? I love getting mail from her. Even if its just my car insurance card - lol.
Today's I'd like to take a moment to talk about my mom. We'll call her MamaP.* MamaP was born in the 50s, has a bachelors and a masters degree (both completed in the 70s) and has spent a majority of her adult life working for a county agency. She's always volunteered her time and been active in the community. And for the last 14 years or so, she's had a computer in her home. But MamaP has a love-hate relationship with technology.
Just think, when MamaP was in college, if she wanted to meet with a professor, she had to go by their office (or call? idunno if they had phones in the offices). When she wanted to deliver information to her Brownie Girl Scout parents, in the early years she had to hand-write a newsletter** and then photocopy it. Despite owning computers at home (technically, they were mine), she wasnt forced to really sit and interact with one until she got one at her work desk in 1999. Most of the time they just stress her out. Especially when its time for some sort of upgrade. But she tries and over the years has made tons of progress. She even banks, makes reservations, and purchases online now. All skill she had to develop in her late 40s and 50s. There was definitely some resistance, and her progress was almost entirely an uphill battle. Lastly, MamaP usually requests help for new technology. Like the iPod she's planning to puchase when I'm home for Spring Break.
This isn't her fault. MamaP means well. She just doesn't have the experience I do with technology. Not that I'm a genius, but I (and most of my generation) have been interacting with computers and other forms of technology for as long as we can remember. And just think about our students. If you told them that back in the day, they wouldn't be able to email their professors about the exam that's scheduled to take place in 8 hours, they would probably blow a gasket. Do they remember having to learn without the Internet, WebCT and PowerPoint? Probably not.
Whats my point?
As some of us progress through our careers, we'll probably have the opportunity to deal with older learners. Not people who are resistant, but inexperienced. Just know that some of them may be like MamaP. They mean well, and are willing to try, but they often experience difficulty and request a good bit of assistance. They just haven't had the exposure that we have. Or the dependence. For them, email may still be considered a secondary form of communication. And we need to keep that in mind.
I know sometimes I take my experience for granted. Do you?
MamaP doesn't. To some degree, I'm sure its because I'm her only child. But she looks to me to trouble shoot problems with Word (over the phone!), advise her on websites to visit, and whatever other technological issue she thinks I may be able to help with. As a lifelong Girl Scout, she is using her resources wisely. Cant get mad at that.
...I may draw the line at Facebook though.
♥
*yes, her name does actually begin with a P, like mine.
**MamaP has elementary school teacher penmanship. You know that handwriting that was meant for a chalkboard? I love getting mail from her. Even if its just my car insurance card - lol.
2.01.2009
1 down, 13 to go
Yup, were that couple that likes to kiss in public
...like were the only ones there}
OMG, I cant believe I almost forgot to address this. Its the first!
February has a special place in my heart because its the home of my favorite (non-birth related) holiday: Valentines Day*! I love Valentines Day because everything has hearts on it. EVERYTHING! And we all know how I love hearts unreasonably. I love Valentines Day despite all the meanies walking around hating on my holiday. Okay, so you dont have a Valentine. So what. You have friends dont you? You have a mom dont you? You still have you dont you? No excuses. Nope...not trying to hear any of them.
So, today marks the first day of my official countdown to Valentines Day. If you arent interested in counting down, you can just ignore these posts or check back with me in a couple. I don't have any special plans with the PHI, but Valentines Day is always a good day for me. So I'll continue to look forward to it. And scope out my 2009 heart-adorned acquisitions.
Last year I got dishtowels and a new doormat...
(toldya, everything has hearts on it)
♥
*Its at this point that I always feel compelled to explain that I do not love Valentines Day because of something Hallmark (or the media) has implanted in me. Like Jill said: "Hate on me haters." Whatev.
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