11-12 November 2015 first tasks

I have read all of the first chapter of the text book. I can relate to the top 10 issues described on page 30. In my area - particularly issue 2 - Funding for educational technology - this will always be an issue in a government funded institution such as TAFE, keeping up with progress and developments in technology is extrememly difficult, this has been slightly alleviated with BYOD as most students in my section have access to up to date mobile technology such as smart phones, IPads etc. and are keen to bring these to class, although there is the issue of equity - issue 3 - the Digital Divide - wealthier students obviously have accesst to better technology. Issue 8 - Online plaguerism is an issue in the English for Further Study and English for Academic Purposes classes, there is a cultural aspect to this as well, in some cultures plaguerism is overlooked or even accepted. Issue 10 - 21st Century technology skills - is an issue too - increasing dependence on technology to communicate information effectively, there are cultural and socio-economic differences with students in my section too.

I've also listened to 21st Century education - Future Tense. I listened as I read the transcript.  To answer the question: 

One of the interviewees, Greg Whitby, claims that the focus on technology is a "waste of time". He says: "If you focus on the technology, you ignore the central problem and the central issue." What do you think he means by this, and to what extent do you agree? Why do you think we focus on the technolgy?

The "central problem" and "central issue" Greg Whitby is referring to teaching and learning, technology is a tool to assist good teachers to help students to learn.  There has been so much advancement in technology everywhere including in education that it is easy to lose sight of what the point is, which is to educate young people to participate effectively in society and to do this it is essential to have good quality teachers.  I agree with this, technology will never replace teachers, it needs to be used to assist the teacher and the students and enhance learning where appropriate.  Whitby goes on to explain that it's not the devices that are important, but the software or "apps" that are downloaded on them.  As he says there has been an "explosion" in app development by Apple and elsewhere, so locating good quality apps is essential, but not easy when there are so many flooding the market.