Sunday, January 31, 2010
Video Game Teaching
On the Horizon (2001) 9(5), features an article by Marc Prensky entitled, Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Part 1 (Part 2 can be found in Volume 9, Number 6). Prensky describes today’s learners as fast-paced, multitasking, never-stopping, question-asking curious beings. These children have grown up in this world. They are the digital natives. These people can listen to their iPod, chat with friends (IM), have many applications open on their computer, and watch a movie at the same time. They live in a world of instant feedback. Schools, according to Prensky, are not providing what these digital natives need to succeed in their studies. His proposal towards the end of the article is to have more software developed where education takes place with video games. He contends (Part 2) that if a game is properly designed, more learning can take place. I wonder if this idea is too simple. Games can be helpful in some situations for learning, however, at some time assessment has to take place. Curricula would have to transform incredibly to accommodate such a drastic change in school. Children need to learn to read and write. Not everything can be done from a keyboard and mouse. I believe there are still some instances where content learning is all right. I would hate to have my lawyer or doctor running to the internet or a video game to help me with a legal or medical problem. Some factual knowledge is necessary. Can web tools help our children in their education? Yes. Nevertheless, I do not think we need to make all our learning in the fashion of video games. According to Prensky, I would be a digital immigrant with this attitude toward education. Who knows, if Prensky is right, I might be out of a job and all children can learn at home playing video games.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
21st Century Skills
As technology brings the world closer together in all aspects of our social and business lives, will North American children be ready to compete in the job market of the 21st century. Thomas Friedman, writes about a "flat" world and how North Americans need to brace themselves because many jobs will be lost to people who are more prepared for today's job market. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is another source who is convinced that North Americans need additional skills for the world job market.
This website is about adding value to the current school system. In addition to the traditional 3R's, 21st century skills include the 4C's (critical thinking & problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity & innovation). I like the fact that this organization is using business, industry, government, and educators to develop their platform. Part of the mission is to recognize that educators need training or support to accomplish the 4C's in the classroom. Many of the 4C's lend themselves to using technology in the classroom and currently, not enough schools and educators are properly enlightened to do this effectively. School boards and schools need to reevaluate their technology education plans. Having Apple and Dell as sponsors helps give credibility to the program, but it also has me wondering if this push for technology in school is a way for these companies to sell more computers and software programs.
Upon reflecting on the 4C's, I have already started to think about ways I can change my lessons and units so my students can use more critical thinking and collaboration in their daily work. I believe that in teaching these skills to our children, they become more engaged and responsible for their learning. I would contend that the 4C's enhance the goal of graduating productive cooperative citizens in our society.
The program seems solid in many ways. I hope that the push is not too great that the politicians at various levels of government will turn away from this idea. Without administrators on board, a good idea might be wasted.
This website is about adding value to the current school system. In addition to the traditional 3R's, 21st century skills include the 4C's (critical thinking & problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity & innovation). I like the fact that this organization is using business, industry, government, and educators to develop their platform. Part of the mission is to recognize that educators need training or support to accomplish the 4C's in the classroom. Many of the 4C's lend themselves to using technology in the classroom and currently, not enough schools and educators are properly enlightened to do this effectively. School boards and schools need to reevaluate their technology education plans. Having Apple and Dell as sponsors helps give credibility to the program, but it also has me wondering if this push for technology in school is a way for these companies to sell more computers and software programs.
Upon reflecting on the 4C's, I have already started to think about ways I can change my lessons and units so my students can use more critical thinking and collaboration in their daily work. I believe that in teaching these skills to our children, they become more engaged and responsible for their learning. I would contend that the 4C's enhance the goal of graduating productive cooperative citizens in our society.
The program seems solid in many ways. I hope that the push is not too great that the politicians at various levels of government will turn away from this idea. Without administrators on board, a good idea might be wasted.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Blogs - What Are They Good For?
I am a homeroom teacher of a wonderful group of 23 grade 7 students. Being new to the world of blogging, I am challenged to see how I could use blogs in my teaching practice. Richardson (2009), an educator and author on integrating the use of web tools into the classroom, says that blogs have several purposes. However, Richardson makes a key point that blogs should make people think and respond. In essence, blogs are an interactive activity. My hope is that I can put the following ideas into practice, beacuse at this time, blog sites are blocked in my school division. But that is another topic.
As an educator, participation and interaction is what I am looking for from my students. I also realize that not every student is an outgoing participatory member in the class. Blogs can be a way that each student can be heard. A written response is a safer option for some learners than others. The other possibility I see for blogs in my class is the potential for interaction with others. Blogs can open the door for dialogue with other students who might be working on the same types of assignments or projects. It would be wonderful to see students from two different countries expressing ideas and challenging each other on specific topics.
As a way to start their educational blogging careers, my students will blog to express ideas and respond to prompts. At this point my students are just ending a novel study on Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. One of the novel’s themes is the notion of everlasting life. I would ask my students to respond to a prompt that would ask them, “If you were given the chance to live forever, would you take that opportunity?” It might generate a chance for dialogue with others.
As I gain experience in blogging and using more web tools in my teaching, I will take bigger steps with my class.
References:
Richarson, W. (2009). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
As an educator, participation and interaction is what I am looking for from my students. I also realize that not every student is an outgoing participatory member in the class. Blogs can be a way that each student can be heard. A written response is a safer option for some learners than others. The other possibility I see for blogs in my class is the potential for interaction with others. Blogs can open the door for dialogue with other students who might be working on the same types of assignments or projects. It would be wonderful to see students from two different countries expressing ideas and challenging each other on specific topics.
As a way to start their educational blogging careers, my students will blog to express ideas and respond to prompts. At this point my students are just ending a novel study on Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt. One of the novel’s themes is the notion of everlasting life. I would ask my students to respond to a prompt that would ask them, “If you were given the chance to live forever, would you take that opportunity?” It might generate a chance for dialogue with others.
As I gain experience in blogging and using more web tools in my teaching, I will take bigger steps with my class.
References:
Richarson, W. (2009). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Welcome
Welcome to Education Contemplation. My purpose is to share my ideas and information on different topics in education. I may tend to lean towards a focus on technology. Please feel free to post comments and add more insights to my blog postings. Stay warm.
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