Thoughts on Technology

It was brought to my attention today that some of you do not have computers at home and are unable to check posts at your convenience. As much as I find this hard to believe because you all seem to know how to use the computers so well I can respect this circumstance. Also, I respect that you have work, and other commitments on a regular basis. However, so do teachers--they are human too. It is because of this that the minimum of one day advanced notice is all that can be promised and also because if this were a traditional classroom model there would be no technology and your success would be solely based on attendance (to receive instruction), participation in class, and your academic output.

I make a conscientious effort to ensure that all my posts are done a day in advance. However, concern was voiced over the issue of not knowing far enough in advance. For example today you were asked to bring a printed hard copy of your chapter in its current state for peer editing today. My first issue with this is is that the use of computer technology in the classroom is a privilege not a right. I indicated two or three times on Friday that hard copies should be brought to class for peer editing. Like any other class I mentioned this in class the Friday before the weekend. Unlike other classes you have been given the opportunity to track the schedule at home on the calendar. The calendar is kept up to date and informs you of assignments, things you need to bring to class and due dates.

I feel that it is more than fair to expect you to come to class on a daily basis as that is the purpose of an education. Many of you have to miss school due to extra-curriculars and personal needs and for those reasons we are lucky to have the computer link with this course.

As well due to the nature of this course, being a workshop course, I asked that you as students make your own goals and deadlines. You were given a calendar and asked to choose a day that worked best for yourself for conferencing and asked to pick a goal you knew you would likely be able to meet in that time frame.

Many students opted to not show up, or to do their conferences late. This exhibits poor planning and initiative, both of which are skills you will need to apply later in life. Also on Monday May 3rd when the peer editing process was being carried out, many of you simply chose not to come. If you have a legitimate excuse for being absent that is fine. However it is an important part of a workshop-based writing class to review works and modify them together.

I treat you with the utmost respect and give you the leeway I think you deserve as young adults to succeed in educating yourselves. However, I can only do so much, in the end the right to learn is yours, the right to succeed is what you make of it and the choices you make will reflect that.

As your teacher I hope only for success and not failure but I can only provide you with the tools and skills you need to achieve success on your own.

You will likely be given the opportunity to review the use of the computer in the classroom perhaps it is not the best option and we should go back to the traditional means of the pen and the pencil.

It is something to consider and the issues of this class will be directed towards the appropriate ears as this issue will not go left undiscussed. I will aim to address your concerns in the future.