My Personal Thoughts on Adding Multimedia to Classrooms

As society continues to advance, educators are finding more and more ways to incorporate new technologies in the learning experience. It used to be that a blackboard and a piece of chalk were the extent of a teacher's arsenal, but now there are numerous multimedia tools that are being utilized all throughout the world to increase the effectiveness of a classroom lesson. Some examples are projectors, SmartBoards, iClickers, Skype, Adobe sessions, graphical presentations such as PowerPoint and Prezi, as well as many other technologies. And although these things are good in nature, there are those who would argue that too many multimedia tools can detract from a lesson rather than increase that lesson's effectiveness.

Personally I have experienced both sides of the coin. I have been in classrooms where the teacher was adept at using multimedia tools and used them effectively to advance the effectiveness of the lesson. For instance, my math teacher in high school would use a SmartBoard to plot graphs. The "smartness" of the board would allow her to draw perfectly straight lines and magnificently circular circles, while also letting her change the color of the virtual marker to distinguish between graphs and equations.

In another of my high school classes, an immaculate SmartBoard was attached to the wall, however, I do not believe the teacher ever attempted to utilize its capabilities. Instead, my teacher would use the whiteboard behind the SmartBoard. If the dormant piece of technology were to be removed though, then my teacher would have gained valuable whiteboard space.

I don't mind the technology, unless it sits there unused because of the technological ignorance of the instructor. Multimedia can totally be used to augment the learning experience.

However, I do think there is something to be said about teachers who can wield nothing but a piece of chalk and still hash out a superb lesson. It may be old school, but I think it's pretty cool.

Reality: a given fact or just a societal construct?

How ironic that this week's blog is concerning the thought of reality. Last night, I watched The Matrix. In the movie, the post-apocalyptic Earth is run by machines who have established a computer program known as the "matrix," which takes on the characteristics of the world as we know it. Humans are blindly inserted into this false reality and given roles in society; however, they are never made aware of the truth.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines reality as "something that is neither derivative nor dependent but exists necessarily." I would have to agree that it is monumentally important to recognize that reality must exist somewhere. Our existence is based on the reality that we were conceived and birthed. However, I do believe the perception of reality can be skewed by those in power. Although the actual reality is unharmed, the way people view it can be warped.

The newspaper is a great example of this concept. The purpose of newspapers is to provide information about recent events. When this information is conveyed in an article, though, it is often manipulated ever so slightly in order to enhance the story. The actual events are left unchanged, but the way in which the public understands them is an alteration of reality.

In the prescribed reading that accompanied this blog post, the author discussed the "empire of Disney" (Sorkin). The Disney parks are designed to be a sort of utopia, in which there are representations of worldwide reality that are displayed in the safety of the parks. Instead of actually visiting the actual geographic locations alluded to in the themes and rides at Disney, visitors can instead walk through clean streets among thousands of vacationers with smiles across their ignorant faces. Perhaps they "prefer the simulation to the reality" (Sorkin). Disney offers snapshots of reality that may or may not accurately represent the reality in its entirety.

In conclusion, I do believe that reality is a given fact. However, I also believe that society can construct "reality" to serve its purposes.

Informally Evaluating Mr. Milligan's Class Thus Far

Honestly, this is one of my most enjoyable classes. Although I have already taken both AP English 3 and 4, I don't mind re-addressing the important things that are taught in English classes. Mr. Milligan is something else.

First and foremost, nothing beats a professor who dresses with style. I, myself, am a man who enjoys colorful clothing. Therefore, Mr. Milligan's many colorful pants are absolutely awesome in my book.

One of the many things I enjoy about ENGL 1030 is the interesting short stories, poems, or other texts that are assigned as pre-class readings by Mr. Milligan. Each selection has proven to be very obscure and interesting, if not humorous as well.

Furthermore, Mr. Milligan is an expert at creating an inviting and easy-going atmosphere within his classroom. All anxieties and stress leave once he begins his lesson. The topics that are addressed in each lesson may be boring, but he always finds a way to spice it up with funny youtube videos or funny pictures. For many, these videos and pictures would seem to deter from the purposes of teaching, however Mr. Milligan expertly weaves them in to the lesson in a way that is both relevant and applicable.

The projects assigned in this English Composition course have really pushed me to express myself through writing. I have not always seen myself as a good writer, but merely someone who could get by. However, the three projects that I have completed so far have given me much more confidence in my writing ability, because I actually enjoyed them. In each case, I felt that I was doing something worthwhile. Instead of just analyzing a novel or responding to a prompt, these projects have allowed me to write about something that I am passionate about. In this third project, I created a cover letter and resume that would be "sent" to an organization called Water Missions International. The funny thing is that I actually intend to do that very thing in a few months when I apply for an internship there.

All this to say, I have really enjoyed Mr. Milligan's class thus far.

Does this class have any relevance to my future career?

First of all, I believe it is necessary that you are aware of my intended future career before I answer the question on the table.

Presently, I intend to graduate from Clemson in four years with a degree in Environmental Engineering. At that point I will either attend graduate school in order to hone my skills, or join an Engineering firm right off the bat. My goal is to research alternative energy sources and develop sustainable energy systems that can be implemented in underdeveloped countries around the world.

With that being said, I will most definitely need to be proficient in communication, both oral and written. I will also need to be able to analyze texts such as research reports and design descriptions. Therefore, this class is extremely relevant to my future career.

In the past, engineers have been labelled as poor writers who lack in communication skills. However, the times have changed, and engineers are now required to be proficient in both writing and communication.

In order to grasp the importance of writing for engineers, I read an article titled, "Is Writing an Essential Skill for Engineers?" by James R. Koelsch. The article cited many engineers who offered their personal insight on the topic of whether or not engineers should be able to write well. The article came to the conclusion that writing is key to an engineer's career, especially if he is operating in a leadership role among other employees.

When Alan Rossiter, a Ph.D., a chemical engineer and president of Rossiter and Associates, was asked about the importance of writing, he quoted one of his students:

"So, if you want to advance beyond just being a number         cruncher, then you need to be able to communicate effectively."

The point being that it is possible to be an engineer without writing skills; although, only if you receive continued satisfaction from doing calculations for the entirety of your career. Otherwise, you must be able to write and communicate. 

As an english composition course that stresses competency in reading, writing, communicating, and analyzing texts, this class has the utmost relevance for my future career.