Blog 6 - Bringing Internet enabled computers to class

There are challenges and benefits faced by university professors when students bring their Internet ready laptops to class. The net generation is composed of technologically savvy multi-taskers who are comfortable with various forms of technology. In my opinion, communication poses challenges and benefits. A major challenge involves keeping the students focused on the class activities, and staying abreast of Internet safety. Since these students are multi-taskers, they can view and use several types of technologies simultaneously. As I viewed the various podcasts in the wiki, it was evident that many students were not focused on their classes. These students appeared bored, and they used class time to catch up on their emails, etc. The students pleaded for engaging classrooms which embraced new technologies and encompassed interaction. Also security is important because of cyber- bullying instances, and threats made over the Internet. Even at the college level, it is important to communicate Internet safety measures when students are online. Per the New Media Consortium, Social Networking, “The “Third Place,” and the Evolution of Communication”:

The vehicle for these changes is the Internet. Increasingly, it is the “third place” (the first and second places being home and work) where people connect with friends, watch television, listen to music, build a sense of togetherness with people across the world, and provide expressions of ourselves which are themselves forms of communication. As more people turn to the Internet for professional and social purposes, we are seeing new means of communication, new places to communicate, and new avenues of interaction unfold at a rapid pace.

A benefit of communication via the Internet focuses on the professor integrating several technologies into the class curriculum which can keep students occupied. In the article, “The Prose of Blogging (and a Few Cons, Too),” Ramasawami stated, “A Plethora of Technology," set out to show that blogging could improve students' writing skills by making them write more frequently and comment on one another's work. Also in the article, “Two to Three Years: Virtual Worlds,” NMC states that:

Virtual worlds can be used to create very effective learning spaces. Since they are generalized rather than contextual, they are applicable to almost all disciplines. Settings can be created to pertain to any subject or area of study; locations and artifacts can be as realistic and detailed, or as generic and undefined as desired. 3D construction tools allow easy visualization of physical objects and materials, even those normally occurring at cosmic or nano scales.

Using virtual worlds can be a great tool to connect students in a classroom with engaging activities. Carrie Windham made several good points about the net generation:
· Multi-taskers
· Social Creatures
· Computer is the center of student’s communication and social life
· Big 3 – cell phone, computer, MP3 player
· Mobility is important
I think that if instructors listened to their students and included engaging technologies into the classroom, a wireless computer could enhance classroom learning. In order to enhance communication, and keep students focused, professors must include various technologies, Father Google, and Mother IM into coursework.