Huerta 3B

This weeks reading, particularly the chapter Creators, was very interesting to me. What I initially wanted to write about was the fading use of what I learned was low-tech media. From my fellow classmates, Ashleigh's discussion post I learned that cursive writing was not being taught to one of her younger siblings, they are no longer submitting papers in cursive, but via computer.  I remember learning cursive myself, I remember when my 15 year old learned it in elementary school, and come to think of it I have yet to see my 8 year old Wyatt be taught the skill. I was searching for articles that would support the continued education of such skills. I really could not find anything on the matter. I found that my thoughts on the matter were not really a foundation for an argument or discussion, but more my own opinion.

Upon further investigation I  found more support for teaching our Educators to use more digital technology in their classrooms. Other articles I found actually found fault with our schools for teaching archaic skills the like of cursive, when there were so many other skill sets more relevant to today's youth. How indeed can you argue with a statement like that? 

I did come across more proponents for using digital technology in teaching special needs students. From my skimming of several articles I was able to see that they have found digital technology to be particularly useful in keeping the attention of not only at risk youth, but autistic children as well. I am thinking of developing a discussion topic on this subject if I can find enough research to build upon.

Although, I do find it more helpful to build a paper when you identify your "Nay Sayer" as Graff and Birkenstein suggest in They say/I say,  I am finding it challenging to find them. I suppose it is not in my mature to willing consider opposing ideas as valid. This only reaffirms to me that I have a lot to learn in the area of academic writing.

The templates provided  have been a great tool in learning the construction process of sound arguments. I find it confidence building to have an idea, research it, then present my findings based on a sound foundation. Especially when the findings agree with my ideas :). I  did catch myself wanting to email Mrs. Record with a question of What if?  "What if I cannot find the foundation with which to support an argument"? The I realized that if there is not argument perhaps my thought on the subject are only ideas based on, as suggested in the online lecture for week two, "values, opinion and views based on my own life experience". It is a learning experience to understand the difference between academic opinions and those based on my exposure to the world.