Linear

What is 'linear text'?

Text has been improved over the past 20 years. From linear text, to digital text, and now hyper text. Digital, and Hyper Text are used on computers. Linear Text is what society has been using for the past 2,000 years. Basically from front to back, or however start to finish. However digital text can be written and deleted in many different fonts,and formats. Hyper text is much more complex. It allows the reader to jump from site to site while reading a single article, the options are opened in hyper text.

The Short Film that was assigned for viewing today painted a picture of hyper text, and digital text formats. For example, in the clip, there was a CNN website being viewed and broken down so that one could understand the hyper text. So as opposed to just reading the text there were links sending readers to different sites where they can further investigate CNN's global news.

The digital text, and hyper text is an innovative way to teach students to think outside the box. Connecting student readers to sites where the author referred to can expand our own intuition. The doors are endlessly open, and on a site which includes lots of hyper text can also occupy the most jittery students. For example Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and AOL.

Sites can have many different images, flash, and creative form however the builder of the site may want to incorporate. There are thousands of awareness sites (drugs, disease, politics), news sites, and other valuable contents that one can put to good use.

The best part about hyper text, is that the user is in control. When I am on a website, I can select what I want to read, and when I would like to read it, where I want to go.

Education has entered the digital text world as well. By using sites such as Edline where teachers can daily update files, grades, projects, classwork, and homework students and parents are accessable.

In the second Short Film we viewed there where many different ideas, and opinions about the fast growing rate of the hyper text world. In agreement with some, schools need to allow technology to take more part into student learning.

Today in education institutes, we see smart boards, more computer labs, laptops, and advance science rooms designed for the new generation to gain a competitive edge in society. By introducing advanced technology systems to schools and rethinking the traditional teaching methods, we can increase test scores and graduation rates by an average of 11% (Georgetown University). Studies also show that with more time in the classroom students can get more involved, understand the material in depth, and with technology in the classroom(smart boards, and computers) we can also exercise our technological habits.

Also in the article,Rethinking Schools they believe that schools should be in collaboration with a "outside organization to enable it to carry out its mission more effectively". I agree, my old school had direct connections with several organizations to help students with their grades, earn extra credit, sports, medical assistance, and G.E.D.

In the short films I watched, and the article I read, I see how education has already started, and will continue to use technology to grow and have more effect on the students. Also collaborations with schools and outside organizations have shown effectiveness, and are being influenced. amacias90@gmail.com
© Anthony Macias 2009