Think quick--speedy--instantaneous: 21st Century students' minds are geared for rapid-fire.
Photo Courtesy of Brad Flickinger via Flickr Creative Commons
Digital Students are:
"hypercommunicators...multitaskers...goal oriented"
(Shelly, G., Gunter, G., and Gunter R. 2012 p. 14).
"It's got to be fast!" (Pearson Education video)
Check out the following video I found on Scott McLeod's Dangerously Irrelevant site:
Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0pZE8WW_Ro
Some say technological advances provide for instant gratification...a negative with children?
Any way you look at it, students are digital learners, and they are ready to move on.
Are you?
As the following video from Michael Pershan explains, effective teaching in America cannot solely rely on students "watching" the teacher and then "practicing" the methods on their own.
Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHoXRvGTtAQ
Although Pershan's clip is about teaching math, it poses these questions:
Are we modeling the most effective teaching strategies in our country?
and
What can we use to become more effective educators?
A SOLUTION through TECHNOLOGY
Communications. Networking. The Web.
Utilizing Technologies and Integrating these resources into the classroom.
Networked Resources
Integrating these technologies into the classroom affords
- more student interaction
- more collaboration
- infinite sources of "unlimited educational information" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 54)
- real learning experiences
- a genuine applicability to everyday, familiar life that will "enhance student learning" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 54).
Photo Courtesy of San Jose Library via Flickr Creative Commons
We can aim to become the classroom's Digital Concierge:
- provide learning opportunities through technology to "capture students' attention, eliminate boredom, and...arouse natural curiosity" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 23).
- Foster students' motivation to learn by making them "...feel that learning is relevant or important to their lives" (Shelly et al 2012 p. 23). And these days, computers are relevant, familiar, and important to students' lives.
So, about instant gratification: Shouldn't we stop saying kids need to learn to wait? ...when really, students can't wait to learn!
References:
Flickr. (2012). Retrieved September 11, 2012 from
Flickr. (2012). Retrieved September 11, 2012 from
McLeod, Scott. (2012). Dangerously Irrelevant. Retrieved September 10, 2012
Shelly, G., Gunter, G., Gunter, R.
(2012). Teachers Discovering Computers:
Integrating
Technology in a
Connected World (7th ed.).
Boston, MA: Course Technology, Cengage
Learning.
You Tube. (2012). Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=CHoXRvGTtAQ
You Tube. (2012). Retrieved September 10, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=v0pZE8WW_Ro
Hey Meghan!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog - it was not only educational and informative, but also interesting and entertaining, which is what all good blogs should be! I'm curious to know if you have any previous experience with blogging? I only ask because your formatting and technique looked really good! I love that you embedded photos and videos and mixed up your text formatting. This is my first blog and my first post was just boring old paragraphs. I had to enlist the help of my roommate to learn how to do all of that other fun stuff. But, once you know it, these blog sites tend to be really user friendly!
I totally agree with the sentiment that teachers need to hop on the technology train or they are gonna lose the interest of their students. As you pointed out, as well as the videos you posted, incorporating technology into the classroom builds motivation and interest in learning. In the digital age, teachers need to build their students' digital communication skills, as well as their oral and written communication skills. Plus, students love using technology - it keeps the learning material fun, fast-paced, and exciting, and it's more relevant and meaningful to their lives.
I also tried the bubble.us thinking map! I found it to be really user-friendly and easy to use. It would be a great digital tool to use in the classroom with students, as well!
Excellent job and I look forward to reading more of your posts! :)
Hi Kaitlyn!
DeleteThanks so much for your input! If I can do the blogging thing, YOU can do it too!
My first post was "just boring old paragraphs" as well, but I decided to fiddle around with all of the user-friendly tools and it's actually quite easy to get your blog looking interesting.
Yes, we need to build motivation to learn (for students AND teachers!). It's also so true that technology incorporates real-world, meaningful learning to digital learners.
Looking forward to reading your blogs too!
Meghan I loved your blog. I really enjoy the first video you posted, it is something all teachers need to remember. Our students are ready to learn, they are ready to use the technology in the classrooms to further their education. The days of a teacher standing in front of the class and reading right from the textbook are long gone; the days of students flipping page by page through a workbook are also long gone. Students crave the instant gratification and visuals that technology such as SmartBoards and IPads give them. With that being said though I plead that all teachers do not completely do away with paper and pencil tasks. I think technology is great but I also know our students still need to be able to do everyday tasks with pen and paper. This is especially true for the younger grades because if you are able to write and recognize letters it helps our students be able to read. My student last year were immersed in a completely technological classroom, which was great especially for my students because they are very visual but now this year most of them can not independently write their own name or hold their pencil correctly, and many can not even trace their name. So although I am a huge fan of using technology in the classroom I feel we need to create a balance between both paper and pencil and technology!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insight and for the great videos!
~Meg
Thanks for your insight, Meg!
DeleteComing from a Preschool teacher's perspecitve, I couldn't agree more on the importance of fine motor skills. Using paper and crayons is still so necessary for developing dexterity and creativity. It's just nice to be able to employ new technologies, in addition!
I like the quote from Gunter... Digital learners are hypercommunicators. Would you also consider them as over achievers? I mean, taking online classes can be a daunting task. Do we dish ourselves out more than we can handle? Especially at the graduate level? Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteIf you have a chance, walk around a school and peek in the windows...not in a creepy way! But just look to see if students are engaged. More likely than not, those students who are engaged are having some sort of contact with technology. And those who are less engaged, or dare I say bored, might not be exposed to technology.
Teachers no longer have to only distribute information. We have to entertain and maintain the attention span for said information to be distributed. We have changed from teachers to entertainment! Be it educational entertainment...but still.
Good post!
mmike5150
Mmike,
DeleteThanks for your post! I've heard the digital generation categorized as "hypercommunicators" but I haven't heard them coined as over-achievers...hopefully they will prove to be over-achievers, in comparison to generations coinded as "slacker" and whatnot!
I agree, students love technology so it is the perfect medium to engage them in.
Hi Meghan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for an interesting and visually appealing posting. I also wrote this week about the ineffective nature of students just watching and then re-creating or trying something on their own. I liked the way you synthesized the findings of these various authors, especially the Networked Resources. My biggest question is how best do we encourage our student to use these new technologies without losing site of the basic skills needed for verbal, written and interpersonal communication? Great post!
Mrs. Ford,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments! I am currently working on your question for my next blog posting: how can we utilize the best that technology has to offer, without over-looking or de-emphasizing the necessary skills that technology cannot encompass or develop?