Week 3: Assignment 2: Blog Post

Kristen Brown

LBSU 302

Week 3, Assignment 2: Blog Post

September 16, 2015

After doing some research and digging, I the found the book Increasing Student Engagement and Retention Using Multimedia Technologies: Video Annotation, Multimedia Applications, Videoconferencing and Transmedia Storytelling. 

I had yet been able to develop a more specific research question but my research into the books this week helped considerably with that problem.  I also was able to dive deeper into the aspect of school curriculum and technology.  More specifically how technology is being used and ways it could be used in enhancing the learning experience.   I expanded my knowledge on this topic quite a bit in skimming and reading through different books I found as a result of my searches through e-collections.  I read on how multimedia has the potential to increase thought process and engage emotional interest and allow for a more interesting class experience.    Technology can create a more interesting, interactive learning experience within the curriculum that can enhance learning since “learners abilities are formed to a large degree via their social interactions (pg. 5).  Children these days know technology better than many adults, sometimes their own parents and teachers.  Their interaction and knowledge of social media and technology can be used and even enhanced in the classroom but to create academic achievement.  However, in reading, I also learned that some challenges teachers face is not having a good understanding of technology thus seeing the technology as only a distraction and hindrance to the learning process. 

My search process for books this week did not start out encouraging.  My first search through an e-collection suggestion in our Badke textbook came back with no results.  This is where I began to use the advanced search to achieve more specific result.  I used another e-collection site suggested, as well as the Leatherby Libraries eBook Academic Collection site.  I’m learning how to be effective in the search process, which is excellent since I have always struggled in the research process of papers.  Not knowing how to find the results and material needed has always been very frustrating.     

As I continue my research for my topic, I am hoping to dig deeper into the challenges that teachers in the classroom face with technology.  And how technology can seem intimidating to some when being incorporated in the classroom in a way that will enhance learning and be effective.