Ok so yes we have moved into a new era of teaching with the influx of technology into the class and into students hands how do we stem the tide of problems we face with it? (it like little replicators invading an asgard ship (yes i jumped "star" programs to stargate but set your inertial dampeners to full power cause i will do that alot)). So what do we know, we know that these kids that we see in our classrooms are from a generation that watches HD everything and feels its a major infraction of their prime directive to manually have to do anything that doesn't involve a rechargable battery. This has given us an achillies heel to work with, even though the "this is boring" and "why do i have to learn this" shields are still at full power if we use this addiction to technology to get our message through the iPod shields we can tap into their love and knowledge of the media to promote the message. (students are sounding quite borg or replicator arent they???) N E WAYS....
so if we can use their precious (yes my precious precious...gollum gollum) ipod for podcasts of the subject area instead of the DREADED video presentation that involves, dramatic pause, VIDEO CASSETTS you have to rewind, we can use that to endear it to them... now i will be the first to admit that when i put these on during my bio class i was the first to make comment on the fashion and hair styles of the 80's and 90's BUT getting beyond big hair and brown suits we see that the underlying science is still sound (and i added running commentary if it was an outdated theory)
Another idea is the youtube phenomon, find a student in your class that cant go to you tube and search for stuff and spend hours watching and you will have found the enigma in a riddle child. so find a topic and send them to youtube to find video or animations, i used the animation search in my classes to aid the visual learners. (granted this idea will require more monitoring of student activities to make sure what they are watching but remember the ALT + TAB combination...i have caught many students trying to hide minimized windows.
ok that has been cathartic so i will "set a course for the alpha sector, maximum warp, engage."
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I think the key is to keep on top of technology and always be aware of what is going on in the world of your students as much as possible. Now, once the classroom is used to aid technology instead of the other way around or in other words, the technology becomes more important than the student's all out full on learning, it has overstayed its welcome. We shouldn't be scared of technology but we shouldn't let that stop us from exposing students to other things as well. We need to open their minds to possibilities, not just give them what they want. If we can open their minds to print sources, the importance of face to face communication and the list could go on forever, we prepare them for a well rounded world.
ReplyDeleteok i concede you point that pandering to their ways of digital life is setting them up to become the 40 year old in the parents basement because they have been "gently" directed how to interact with the rest of society. This social lesson is ongoing through many element of life so HOPEFULLY they do get it in other parts of life. I am also not purposing that we go completely digital there does have to be the oldschool book reading because if we dont promote that skill then next year comes and a new teacher who doesn't embrace livin la vida digital and we are right back to the samer problem just one year later. No, i am purposing this as a first contact experience, exposing the student to this crazy new world that is out there but not enforcing our FEDERATION way of life on them.
ReplyDeleteimpressive......very impressive.
ReplyDelete