Technology is wonderful! We can communicate all around the world, send pictures to people thousands of miles away, and have an entire library worth of information at our fingertips. However, all of that is useless unless we know how to access the information. Technology, in today’s fast paced world is essential to giving students a well rounded education. Investigating the technology at any school should be a priority for a first year teacher, or any new staff member.
Blatchley has wonderful technology, and there are many opportunities for students to use it on their own and during class time, for school related projects. Unfortunately other schools in the district have more technology, but Blatchley is still doing well with what they have. Many of the teachers have technology in their rooms because they did the fundraising for it themselves. Hopefully as time goes on their will be more money, but for now it works.
Click here for the full report!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Listen to the Natives - Article 1
Overview
In the article “Listen to the Natives” Marc Prensky talks about how the youth of today are native to technology and we, as educators, need to take this into account when we are planning lessons and methods of teaching. When a student of today, “digital native”, is communicating with a “digital immigrant”, or someone who did not grow up with technology, there may be misunderstandings. The students of today can adapt to technology faster and understand it better then digital immigrants.
Students could learn faster and more efficiently if they were given educational video games rather then the traditional classroom setting. Teachers also need to bring more technology into the classroom, such as referencing video games as outside examples.
Students should be encouraged to use their digital tools in the classroom as much as possible. They have become a part of them and using them will enhance their education. Guests in the classroom should be brought in to discuss technology with students so they have a better understanding of the technological world around them.
Reference Points
“…we can no longer use either our 20th century knowledge or our training as a guide to what is best for them educationally.”
“For example, students could learn algebra far more quickly if instruction were available in game format.”
“Outside school, they are fully engaged by their 21st century digital lives”
“As 21st century educators, we can no longer decide for our students, we must decide with them.”
“From computers to calculators to MP3 players to camera phones, these tools are like extensions of their brains.”
“Students should be learning 21st century subject matter, such as nanotechnology, bioethics, genetic medicine, and neuroscience.”
Reflection
My reaction to many aspects of this article is “are you kidding me”. I was just totally astonished at some of the things the author was stating. The first thing that popped out at me was using video games to teach students math. There is already a problem in America with students not focusing in class, and one theory of this is that students have so much stimulation from games that they can’t focus in a normal paced environment. Now take that and double it by adding games to their school routine. I believe that is totally ludicrous. When students move on in life they will have to learn many thing on the job and from reading. What message are we sending to them? Everything will be presented to you in a fun and exciting way. This is not how the world works. There are so many things that we have to learn that aren’t fun and exciting. However, the skill of learning how to learn when something isn't fun is essential.
To further illustrate my point that the author wants to give students a constant fun environment he states that students should have the choice to walk out if the teacher does not deliver compelling content. If there is one thing I have learned from life it is this: things we once thought to be totally useless and boring somehow work their way into being a part of our life. When I took geology in college I hated the class and thought I would never use the information again. As part of my first job I taught a succession class where a major portion of it was geology. At that point in their lives students have no idea what they are going to use after they graduate. Not everything in life can have a “wow” effect.
I am not saying that technology isn’t essential to learn in school, and I am not saying I don’t think school should be interactive and fun. I love science and everyday students should enjoy something they do at school. I am just saying that this author has taken things to the extreme. We need to teach students technology, and yes it needs to be a part of the classroom, but it isn’t the only part. Education needs to be a mixture of many different methods.
In the article “Listen to the Natives” Marc Prensky talks about how the youth of today are native to technology and we, as educators, need to take this into account when we are planning lessons and methods of teaching. When a student of today, “digital native”, is communicating with a “digital immigrant”, or someone who did not grow up with technology, there may be misunderstandings. The students of today can adapt to technology faster and understand it better then digital immigrants.
Students could learn faster and more efficiently if they were given educational video games rather then the traditional classroom setting. Teachers also need to bring more technology into the classroom, such as referencing video games as outside examples.
Students should be encouraged to use their digital tools in the classroom as much as possible. They have become a part of them and using them will enhance their education. Guests in the classroom should be brought in to discuss technology with students so they have a better understanding of the technological world around them.
Reference Points
“…we can no longer use either our 20th century knowledge or our training as a guide to what is best for them educationally.”
“For example, students could learn algebra far more quickly if instruction were available in game format.”
“Outside school, they are fully engaged by their 21st century digital lives”
“As 21st century educators, we can no longer decide for our students, we must decide with them.”
“From computers to calculators to MP3 players to camera phones, these tools are like extensions of their brains.”
“Students should be learning 21st century subject matter, such as nanotechnology, bioethics, genetic medicine, and neuroscience.”
Reflection
My reaction to many aspects of this article is “are you kidding me”. I was just totally astonished at some of the things the author was stating. The first thing that popped out at me was using video games to teach students math. There is already a problem in America with students not focusing in class, and one theory of this is that students have so much stimulation from games that they can’t focus in a normal paced environment. Now take that and double it by adding games to their school routine. I believe that is totally ludicrous. When students move on in life they will have to learn many thing on the job and from reading. What message are we sending to them? Everything will be presented to you in a fun and exciting way. This is not how the world works. There are so many things that we have to learn that aren’t fun and exciting. However, the skill of learning how to learn when something isn't fun is essential.
To further illustrate my point that the author wants to give students a constant fun environment he states that students should have the choice to walk out if the teacher does not deliver compelling content. If there is one thing I have learned from life it is this: things we once thought to be totally useless and boring somehow work their way into being a part of our life. When I took geology in college I hated the class and thought I would never use the information again. As part of my first job I taught a succession class where a major portion of it was geology. At that point in their lives students have no idea what they are going to use after they graduate. Not everything in life can have a “wow” effect.
I am not saying that technology isn’t essential to learn in school, and I am not saying I don’t think school should be interactive and fun. I love science and everyday students should enjoy something they do at school. I am just saying that this author has taken things to the extreme. We need to teach students technology, and yes it needs to be a part of the classroom, but it isn’t the only part. Education needs to be a mixture of many different methods.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Futuring
A. How would you “grade” or assess Fox Becomes a Better Person, and School Train?
After watching Fox Becomes a Better Person it is very clear Hannah put a lot of time into the assignment and did a very good job presenting the story. For assessment of this project I would use the following criteria:
1. the student gave a clear presentation
2. the student choose a story that conveyed a message
3. the student used traditional story telling methods
4. the graphics added to the presentation and were not distracting
Overall Hannah did a wonderful job on all four of the criteria. Her presentation was clear and very smooth, her story had a great message, and she conveyed it very well playing more then one character and made her own sound effect, and last the pictures enhanced the presentation and were not distracting at all.
The first time watching School Train I had no idea how I would asses the assignment, however, after reading the description and watching the clip again it was very clear. The assignment was for the students to show they understand a metaphor, which they clearly do! If your goal is for a student to understand a particular concept it doesn't matter how they show you they understand the concept. The presentation itself was very well put together and the students seemed to enjoy making it. All around the goal of learning was accomplished!
B. What impacts could the developments portrayed in epic2015 have on your classroom, particularly with respect to things like podcasting?
By doing this assignment students will hopefully gain a better understanding of what they want, and how they can get there.
After watching Fox Becomes a Better Person it is very clear Hannah put a lot of time into the assignment and did a very good job presenting the story. For assessment of this project I would use the following criteria:
1. the student gave a clear presentation
2. the student choose a story that conveyed a message
3. the student used traditional story telling methods
4. the graphics added to the presentation and were not distracting
Overall Hannah did a wonderful job on all four of the criteria. Her presentation was clear and very smooth, her story had a great message, and she conveyed it very well playing more then one character and made her own sound effect, and last the pictures enhanced the presentation and were not distracting at all.
The first time watching School Train I had no idea how I would asses the assignment, however, after reading the description and watching the clip again it was very clear. The assignment was for the students to show they understand a metaphor, which they clearly do! If your goal is for a student to understand a particular concept it doesn't matter how they show you they understand the concept. The presentation itself was very well put together and the students seemed to enjoy making it. All around the goal of learning was accomplished!
B. What impacts could the developments portrayed in epic2015 have on your classroom, particularly with respect to things like podcasting?
Epic2015, to me, is a very scary. The fact is that technology has come so far in a short time tells me there is no limit to where it could go next. This could very well be the future. What I heard totally shocked me, but if you told me ten years ago about the advancement of today that would have shocked me too.
I think the biggest impact on the classroom would be students would have a skewed view of the world around them. Everything would be customized for them, almost giving the image the world revolves around them. If the only news and information we receive is customized for us we start to lose sight of other things around us. When a student comes into the classroom they are only going to want to hear what interest them. As we all know there are many things in school we don't want to learn, but we do, and we have grown up in a world that has not catered to us. The up coming generation will not have this. I would not want news that is catered to me, so many times I have seen a news clip that is totally interesting, but something I would never have thought I would like. When things advance there is also things that are lost.
The scary part about podcasts is that the more popular they become I fear the human interaction factor will be taken away. How long will it be before students have the option of having class from their living room? Why will they have to come to school? Just looking at the classes I am taking on line now I can see how easy it is. I am being given all the same information, I am doing assignment on line, its all there. The part I miss is being in the classroom. Yes, it is nice typing this on my couch listening to music, but I miss people. What kind of world would it be if we started children at a young age on the computer and they never had the chance to interact with other students. I don't like that idea at all.
C. How might you use Sabrina’s piece as a model for something you would do with your own students?
SabrinaJourney is a great assignment to give hope and a purpose to children for the future. So often students don't understand why they have to go to school and what they are getting out of it. By having students do an assignment like this they can think ahead to where they will belong and from there they can back track. Then the students can do a media presentation, similar to SabrinaJourney, as if it was 10 years from now. The goal for the assignment would be as follows:
1) students show how something they are learning now will help them later.
2) students show specific steps to achieving their goal
By doing this assignment students will hopefully gain a better understanding of what they want, and how they can get there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
