Exploring Current Issues in Educational Technology with Free PowerWeb

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Summary: Delightful, insightful read!
Review: Exploring Current Issues in Educational Technology, is a book is designed to get you to think. The authors note that is what makes the book different. It is not just a text providing information to memorize. The first four chapters describe the pedagogical approach of the book and it's topics. Here it explains the problem-based approach and the use of scenarios to prompt critical thinking and group discussion. The book is chiefly designed for future teachers who will be expected to use communications technologies in the classroom. The authors also note that it might also be quite helpful for experienced teachers who need to expand their knowledge of what is available and the issues associated with the effective use of these new technologies. In addition, they point out that Exploring Current Issues in Educational Technology is also for instructional technologists who either have an advanced degree or are working on one. The book is well written, easy to read and understand. It is extremely well organized into twenty chapters, each of which addresses a different issue in the field of instructional technology. This variety of issues offers choice to the reader or the instructor using the text in a college classroom. The topics are compelling and interesting for anyone working in this area. The twenty chapters have been organized into five sections, each reflecting a given theme. The first section covers chapters that deal primarily with educational approaches and leads readers to think about how these techniques can be used in conjunction with technology. This "Curricular Concerns: Strategies and Skills" section discusses experimental and descriptive research. The second section encompasses the chapters that raise controversial issues associated with the implementation of instructional technology. This "Difficult Decisions: Crucial Yet Complicated" section is likely to stimulate lively debate in the classroom. Section 3, "Social Issues: Rights and Responsibilities," deals with the use of technology and social issues that arise from such use. The fourth section, "New Opportunities: Engaging or Enraging?," gives examples of new technology applications and asks how instructors can best take advantage of the new potential. The title of the final section is "Future Possibilities: Virtually No Limitations?," discusses future possibilities and how they might transform schools by the end of this new millennium. The individual chapter topics are truly intriguing and leave the reader wondering which one to read first. This book goes beyond simply providing information; it presents problematic issues and situations in realistic case studies and asks the reader to find solutions. Each chapter ends with a scenario. The scenarios involve issues such as online learning communities, commercial TV in the classroom, copyrights and fair use, replacing books with "Notebooks," artificial intelligence, and researching on the Web. Each scenario is introduced with a clear explanation of why the issues raised are important. The authors have used obviously sprinkled subtle humor throughout the book and it is a delightful and insightful read. They have provided a nice Glossary with the book. The size of the book makes it manageable read on a quiet evening.