Rosen (2011) suggested that “teachers relegate much of the content dissemination to technology” to free up time to facilitate learning. He suggests having the students review content as homework and do the work in class. I think it is a great idea and will improve the quality of our kid’s education. This would work with students whose parents can afford the $100 monthly data plan and smart phone or personal computer with high-speed Internet service. However, according to a 2003 technical report from IPED, only 35.1-42.9% of El Pasoans had Internet access. The digital divide in El Paso would only allow certain economic classes to use this method of teaching. Is it right to hold back the financially able to be fair to the unable? Who should pay for the other half of the population? Tough questions for the policy makers to answer.
Rosen (2011) also stated, “Technology is all about engagement…we can clearly see that they [children and teens] are engaged.” True, but we need to look at “why” they are engaged. All but one of the technologies mentioned were social media technologies. One could argue that even games are social media once you add a “live” account. They have the ability to chat or talk with friends while playing your favorite game.
What we need to do as educators is apply what we have learned from the addictive social interactions that make technology so exciting, and design our active learning experiences based on their best practices. It is not the technology that is important to them (most don’t understand “how” it works); it is what the technology allows them to do with their friends and their time.
There seems to be a consensus among teachers that money is the key to developing smarter students or that money will fix the technology problem in the school. I think that for the iGeneration students technology will find them and in the end with computers or no computers they will still know more about technology the the rest of the Generations mentioned in the article.
ReplyDeleteI completley agree with this post, there is a up side and a down side to smartphones. The up ofcourse is that it has the capability to become a great tool in the classroom but the downside is games social networking and the cost. Hopefully one day the people working on these things will think of the schools and possibly make something designed for and by the classroom. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI think that a good start towards designing an active learning experience in the classroom would be to look at work others have created and go from there. Promethean planet was a great starter for me. It has some free presentations and if you have a laptop(the school provided one with the program), projector, and an empty wall your good to go! As simple as the program is, my students find it truly engaging. We need to keep looking for those programs that already have designed activities for us.
ReplyDeleteVery insightful for a digital immigrant. Your wisdom in this matter is invaluable to teachers and decision makers wanting to integrate more technology into education.
ReplyDeleteGood point. I appreciate your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteEngagement is the key and get them there is the challenge
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