I guess I never think about using everyday technology in the classroom. I never used these things as a student (until college that is) so I guess it seems weird to me to use them in the classroom. And many of these things I didn't have or didn't even come out until I was in the later part of high school, so they seems so seperated from my younger school days. Where as now kids grew up having cell phone, using Wiki, reading blogs, having an iPod, etc. I guess in many ways I kinda want to keep learning the same way that I am familiar with. I'm fine with using computers and power point and such, but iPods and cell phones just aren't something I think of using when it comes to classroom technology.
I think that these pieces of technology could be, in fact, very useful in reaching todays kids. They are so use to these things and love them, and would probably love to get to use them in learning. But I also think problems would arise. If you allow cell phones in class, how do you know that students aren't texting their friend's and doing the assignment instead. Or can you be sure that your students are listening to the podcast and not the lastest and greatest from the Jonas Brothers? I could see where some kids would be happy they get to listen to their iPod for homework. But there would be others who would say that it's an iPod and no way are they using their iPod for homework.
I think I would be far more comfortable having kids blog or keep a class Wiki before I used things like cell phones or iPods in class. These are things that kids are familiar with but yet are not personal items. I think that there would be less missuse with these things as well. But over time I think if I saw more teachers using them, and reaching their students with them, I would be more comfortable using them. Right now, it's kinda uncharted territory.
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I can understand where you are coming from when you say that it is weird to use this technology when it was not around when you were in school. I know that the majority of this everyday technology was either non-existent or used on a limited basis for a very specific purpose. I think those of us that are only in our late teens or early twenties do not realize that education and learning have changed so much since we were in school. We forget that children are growing up with iPods and cell phones from a very young age.
I mentioned in my blog the same point about sticking with what works and what you know. I may not enjoy doing PowerPoints or Word, but I have been using it since I was in middle school and I know that it works. It is very easy for teachers to get in a comfort zone based on their own prior learning experiences. I think that it is a challenge we, as teachers, must battle everyday to work outside of our comfort zone and try to meet the needs of our students regardless of what comes easy or natural to us. We live in a world that is technology-driven and we should make every effort to incorporate all different technologies, including those that may seem a little unconventional.
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