Sorry, I think I'm getting some feedback...

Surveys, Quizzes., Open-ended Responses, Oh My! Feedback is no longer just the noise from a walkie talkie that is almost out of range. In a world of instant gratification, students want feedback...instantly. Likewise, their parents want feedback...instantly. A grade is no longer good enough. Like a small child who wants to know the reason and cause for everything...everyone is asking WHY? Why did I receive the grade I received? Why did my child not pass your class? Why does Joe have a higher average than me? There are many resources that provide options for in-class feedback (both for the teacher and the student). But what is hard about feedback? It takes TIME. Well what about our new friend the QR Code? Could it be the time-saving formative feedback answer to prayers? Make your own opinion. I will be interested to see how technology further breaks the time crunch barrier for in this case, formative feedback.

Are we secure?

Security. Always a question on our minds. Home security...are we safe in our own homes? Are our belongings safe when we leave home? HomeLAND security...is our country safe? Can we travel with our family or even with students around the country and be sure of our own safety? And now... Mobile security...are we safe in cyber world? Let me start with an example. Last week I traveled to Kansas City, MO with a total of 25 students from my school (and 4 other instructors) for a weeklong national competition and conference for SkillsUSA. Internet was only available at our hotel for a high price, so I used my mobile phone throughout the week to do most of my cyber correspondence. I routinely checked my email, even paid a few bills online via my mobile phone. We checked student scores, reviewed old class materials for practice, and even kept up with our local college baseball team's scores at the College World Series. Was our safety compromised throughout our week of no wireless Internet access? And if so, what could we possibly do to prevent further security issues? As a Droid user myself, I find information such as this interesting in my search for an answer.

Mobile photos in action

Mobile photos can be used in my class to allow students to take pictures of logos and ad pieces they see for their fellow students to critique and use for design discussions and for future inspiration. They can be uploaded to a blog similar to this for class access

Generation Y teaches Generation Y

Age is just a number right? According to today's society, much research and focus has been put on age. Technology and technical knowledge equal success. The younger one is, the easier it is for them to learn and master new emerging technologies. In education a common topic for discussion is the gap between the age of students and the age of teachers. How can a Baby Boomer teacher acquire enough knowledge of new technologies to be able to teach a Generation Y student something they do not know? Or Baby Boomer teachers just cannot constantly learn about new devices like their Generation Y students can. Well what about when a teacher is also a Generation Y?

I am 24 years old and have recently finished my 3rd year teaching Digital Art and Design to high school juniors and seniors. As a new teacher at 21 years of age, I was faced with a few challenges but most importantly great opportunities to teach my fellow Generation Y-ers. As someone who also grew up with computing and digital devices for most of my life, I share some similar mindsets of my students when it comes to digital media. I had a Facebook page when it was first only available to college students, am now on my 3rd smart phone (Motorola Q, then Blackberry Tour, now HTC Incredible Droid), have 2 iPods (a Nano and a Touch), have owned and used multiple laptops (both PC and Mac operating systems) and am now gearing up for a school issued iPad 2. Like my students I live in a digital world. I use mobile devices to communicate with others, share pictures and videos, stay informed, find recipes, travel, and teach. I really enjoy having a different view of my students than many of my older colleagues may have. I am growing with my students as we learn about knew mobile learning devices.

Mobile learning is inevitable. Some are trying hard to avoid it, while we should all be embracing it. I am working this summer to revamp many of my design lesson plans to incorporate opportunities for mobile learning. I look forward to having my students incorporate QR codes into brochure and advertisement designs, continue incorporating social media references/links to their own digital portfolios and corporate identity webpage designs, etc.

So the biggest question for me is how can I as a Generation Y teach my fellow Generation Y in a unique way?