It is weird to actually have a specific title to having used technology in the classroom and out. I am a digital native. I have grown up with technology in the classroom, from the early years with the old Mac's with the Oregon trail game and the netscape game. And ending with the high school years and AOL taking over the world and overhead projecters. "They have spent their entire lives surrounded by and using computers, videogames, digital music players, video cams, cell phones, and all the other toys and tools of the digital age." This quote says it all, from the beginning of school to after school parties at friends house to just passing the time. I have always been surrounded by it and whether I used it or not I am always aware they are there.
"Sure they have short attention spans—for the old ways of learning, says a professor." I really believe that this quote says it all. While most teachers are quick to say that we as students have short attention spans, I do believe it is because the old school tacher who is lecturing is having a tough time keeping the attention of his students. It is up to these teachers to be on top of their game and not just pull the material out of their filing cabinet every year and expect the class to be engaged. It is the teachers who need to change and remain plastic to teaching styles and making sure they are keeping the students interest, not the other way around.
One of the main aspects our jobs as teachers is, "all the students we teach have something in their lives that’s really engaging—something that they do and that they are good at, something that has an engaging, creative component to it." It is up to us as teachers to keep the students involved and engaged. It is our job to allow them to bring in their personality in the class while sticking to the cirriculum. While this is going to be one of the hardest aspects of the job, it is also what is going to being the best results!
It is this age in technology where the huge majority of the students are going to be smarter with technology than the teacher. But it is up to us as teachers to stay on top of this and not forget about where we came from! We need to embrace the technology and work it in whenever possible into our course work. It is up to us to keep the students engaged and pushing with using specific examples that not only interest them but push the envelope with our subject as well!
It is true, our students will most likely be better at using technology then we will. What a resource to have in our classroom year after year! As technological trends evolve into cornerstones of our culture (Google, Twitter, facebook), we have the opportunity to be taught many of these trends by the experts or “our students.” Digital natives have an interesting journey as technology continues to advance, maybe our citizenship will be revoked as the next generation blows our technological understanding out of the water.
ReplyDeleteI think it is really interesting that as a self identified native you agree totally with Mark’s perspective and put the entire responsibility of keeping students engaged on the teachers. People could probably debate with you on this point but I am much more interested in seeing how you, as a teacher, will do this. I am excited to see how someone that is willing to shoulder the entire burden of keeping students engaged does it. I think he has given us some great ideas to start with but I excited to see how you will run with those ideas and use a variety of technologies to keep the keeps engaged not enraged. Go head Mr. Thompson!
ReplyDelete