Chapter 5 Reflection

This chapter looks at what can be considered new media and digital media, and how the youth of today interact with these media. New media is merely something that is different and newly introduced into a setting. At one point the markerboard was considered new media. Today new media would include Smartboards, iPads, skyping, etc. digital media just means that the idea of technology is developed into the media.  While many of these media are new to the classroom they are not new to the students that are using the media. Students have been using email, iPads, computers since they were small and already know how to use them. The secret is that the teacher help instruct them how to use this media in a way that will help in classroom learning. Another important thing for teachers to realize is that students will use technology in a different way then how teachers think it should be used. While teachers may want a long detailed post on a discussion board the students may prefer to do short posts back and forth creating almost a conversational atmosphere. 

One thing I notice in working in several schools throughout Oklahoma, is that not all schools have the same new media. Some schools are equipped with wonderful technology and enough for each teacher to have their fair share. Other schools may not even have markerboards and are using computers that cannot support the software for learning. A teacher must not become so adjusted to the new digital media that they do not know how to teach without it. The ability for teachers and students to unplug is still incredibly important. This lack of media in many rooms also makes it hard for schools across the nation in general to change their way of teaching cumulatively because not everyone is to that point.