BookReviewsIDM

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In the book // Disrupting Class, ////Clayton Christensen (along with co-authors Michael Horn and Curtis Johnson), examines the problem the public school system that accumulated over the past years. //Christensen starts off in the book by providing common reasons why schools cannot improve and debunks each one with a clarify explanation. // Christensen ultimately arrives to the solution for raising both tests scores and motivating struggling students to learn -- student-centric technology. The reason behind student-centric technology is that Christensen states “the way we learn doesn’t always match up with the way we are taught” and each student has different learning styles/paces. He believes that by using technology software in the classroom, each student will be able to receive customized lesson based on their learning skills and this would allow teachers to more available to assist struggling students. // =====

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Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and the viewpoints it provided. //Throughout the chapters, Christensen applies theories and methods that are normal use for the business world and shows how they can also be use in the school systems; I found this comparison quite interesting and not look at it from this perspective. // There are a few facts that Christensen points out that I already know. One example I noticed, he points out that the low-income student’s environment and their relationship with their parents plays a factor in a student’s performance in school. Although this may be a huge factor toward a student’s performance, it is not the only one. At the end, I do feel like the school system needs to revise their current curriculum plan in order to incorporate the technology programs to better benefit students, but only when a program is perfected for use. I would recommend this book to those are in the teaching profession or soon will be as reference for new teaching methods and what’s next in store for the education industry. =====

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In Mark Bauerlein’s "//The Dumbest Generation,"// he discusses the negative effects of technology have in today’s youths. Bauerlein informs us that today’s young generation is not prepared to become an “informed citizen” and carry themselves into the adult world. He clarifies the concept of how the modern young adult is rapidly “dumbing” down due to the easy access of various social network websites and other technology applications. In one section of the book, Bauerlein provides the example of the TV segment of “Jaywalking” from “The Tonight Show” to demonstrate how easily young adults are clueless with their responses to straightforward questions. He also sets the truth about technology-infused schools/school districts and concludes no distinction in test scores between computer-based classrooms and non computer-based classrooms. At the end, Bauerlein ponders and hopes about the future as this generation will eventually enter the adult world and one day leads the next generation of youths. =====

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- Provides several research examples and studies from several creditable sources (i.e. – University of Michigan Institute of Social Research and U.S Department of Education). =====

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-  Constantly criticizing the younger generation for their lack of scholarly knowledge. =====

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Although I am still consider a youth in Bauerlein’s eyes, I’m not taken back or offended by some of these comments he made in this book. In general, I do agree with most of them. A lot of the content of this book really caught my attention, especially Chapter Five. I attended an inner-city high school where those who actually makes it to graduation, don’t have the right encouragement to attempt to go to college, let alone get a college degree. Overall, I would recommend this book to others as it provides a different aspect on technology usage in young adults’ lives and ultimately proves that technology can be too good to be true. =====

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Mark Prensky’s “//Don’t Bother Me Mom – I’m Learning//” (2009) provides parents with a perspective insight of the positive effect of video games have in children. The overall intention of this book is to reassure those who may have difficulty with their children’s’ excess gaming. Prensky describes how parental involvement in their child’s gaming activities can better improve the parent-child relationship and can provide the ability to condition the child’s cognitive skills for real life situations. Prensky argues that the assured outcomes of video games are being overshadowed by the negative outputs displayed by the media and other public figures. These outputs are the results by those individuals who have abuse its proper purpose.======

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Although this book presents useful pointers for parents to better understand their child’s obsession with their video games, there are a few items I prefer he would revise. Understanding this book is only addressing towards parents (towards the end also teachers), I believe Prensky should also address the other adult figures that are actively involved in that child’s life. I also prefer he would have chosen a better video game to analyze than Grand Theft Auto. Although GTA is a very popular video game to teenagers and was interesting reading how he breaks down the hidden effects of the game, I believe it is not at the same level the previous two examples Prensky analyze. Overall, this book was informative to me in some aspects and would recommend this book to parents, teachers and anyone else who may be “out of the loop” when it comes to the connection between children and video games but only for its suggestions and terms. ======