Chapter 1: Computing in the Digital Age

When I began to read this chapter, the first subject I came across was "What is a computer and what does it do?" I was then dreading to read the rest of the chapter because I had to conception that it was all going to be this basic information that I already knew. Most of the chapter was filled with facts that I already knew, such as the different categories of computers and the different types of software that are available to use on computers. I did, however learn a lot from reading this chapter.

For example, I learned about Digital Students. I had assumed that digital students would be students who are technologically inclines, but i learned that the term digital student can be used to describe kids who are multitaskers and can do several things at once or kids who are goal oriented and often times multiple goal oriented. I also learned about the ARCS motivational model which was created by John Keller in 1983. The model is used to link differences in students learning styles to the amount of work and effort they are willing to put in to their learning. The model is separated into four areas: Attention, Relevance, Challenge/Confidence, and Satisfaction/Success (A.R.C.S).

The chapter also summed up the basic reasons that it is important to use technology with education. Technology enables schools to communicate with other schools in their school districts, forming a better bond between the two and helping to establish a community of education. Also, it has been found that when you use technology correctly, it has a very high change of increasing students achievement levels. I also learned about many organizations, such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) that are working to keep the use of technology alive in the educational systems as well as supporting teachers along the way.