After an intense two week introduction to the applications listed last week, this week was a bit of a breather, and an opportunity to start seeing these in context.
The readings, video clips, and exercises were designed for us to glimpse the cultural context of the "digital learner" in today's schools. I could go on to reflect on the cultural shifts described in the study material, or the imperatives for creative, and collaborative learning that today's students expect using technologies that engage them. Instead, I'd like to tell you about two new blogs I set up this week, after starting this one.
One blog was for members of a team I volunteer with. The idea was to set up a private blog for the team members to share ideas about the group's long term plans. We are planning a fireside retreat in 4 months, but I thought preparation via an asynchronos discussion on the blog might get us going. The other members of the group are brilliant organizers, very well educated, and over 60 years old. It's been close to a week, and none of the other members have quite figured out how to connect to the blog. I'll walk them through it when I get a chance.
The other blog is a "family blog". It is a private place where my daughters, my wife, brother-in-law, and wife's parents can share with each other reflections of our days. My older daughter was born in 1997 (now 11), and so would qualify for membership in the Net-Gen. As boomer parents, we've been quite protective of her exposure to "screen time", but "allow her" to use the computer for a few minutes nearly daily. Shortly after I set up our family blog, my daughter was bubbling with excitement to get started, and within a few minutes, and our cautious supervision, she had her first g-mail account. When I got home the next day, I checked the blog. To my surprise, not only had she logged in and posted to it, but in addition to the text, was an image she'd taken of herself (copied above), as well as a creative and digitally enhance video she'd made expressing her excitement about hoping to finally get a chance to use a real blog. I was amazed. The creativity and enthusiasm for collaboration that reached this 11 year old, (and in this respect, I don't consider her much different from her cohorts) truly illustrated the point. Teachers couldn't spend enough at their local dollar stores, on stickers, pencils, and other rewards, to buy that level of engagement. Clearly, for better or worse, technology engages today's students. Teachers would be wise to employ it. Even if that means stepping out of their "comfort zones".
Last Monday (9/8/08) our Teaching with Technology class had its first on-line session together. The excitement of my kids, and the children of others, at seeing the technology, and learning something from their parents was compelling. So does this mean that as teachers we need to stay ahead of our students in order for them to learn? When it comes to technology, I don't believe that is necessary. But I do believe Don Knezek, ISTE CEO, 2008 put it well: "Teachers must become comfortable as co-learners with their students and with colleagues around the world. Today it is less about staying ahead and more about moving ahead as members of dynamic learning communities."
No comments:
Post a Comment