Are we on the right track?

The statistics in these two videos were staggering.  I was amazed and overwhelmed at the numbers presented and most of them were 5 years old!  The PK-12 students of today are strictly digital learners.  If we as educators do not change our teaching styles and methods we are going to lose these students very quickly.  I loved the quote from one of the videos about having to "power down" when at school.  For the digital generation that must be so true!  

I was involved in a discussion just today about how cursive handwriting has been taken out of the required skills for elementary students.  They are no longer taught this skill in most states.  And why should it be?  Most written documents are now created, edited and delivered digitally.  This is one example of a change in the right direction.  We still have a long way to go but educators are making strides!

Today's Learner

I thought these two articles were BRILLIANT!! I love the imagery of the second language learner. I have such a better grasp on how to explain educational technology! Can this article be my Educational Technology Philosophy? Just Kidding!

Educational Technology

What is the meaning of educational technology?
 

Technology can be defined as hardware (ipad, laptop, projector, tv) or software (learning games, word processing, digital recordings). To make these items educational, we, as educators we must use these tools to present and transfer knowledge and skills to our students who face bigger and better technologies every day. 

Intro Week

Having my educational technology philosophy down in writing helps focus my thinking when working on a project or lesson plan.  I now have a jumping off point. 

At this point, what potential uses do you see for blogging?  Stephen Downes' article on Educational Blogging was written in 2004. Have we met this potential? What's preventing us from doing so?  

I think blogs are great.  In my opinion using blogs in the classroom is a non-threatening way for students to practice their writing skills.  If they are assigned regularly scheduled posts with the only limitations being grammar and basic writing guidelines, then the students have the freedom to write. And isn’t that what the goal is anyway? To teach our students to communicate effectively in written formats? 

November's article, Creating a Culture for Teaching and Learning outlines six areas to think about and changes on the horizon with technology and education. Which one stood out to you the most and why?

The area that stood out the most to me was If its on the internet is it true?.  We must train students to filter what they are consuming.  We have to teach them how to search out evidence for the truth (or untruth) of what they are reading/ seeing.  The students MUST learn to think discriminately about what they consume from the internet.  I have been trying to teach this to my own mother by reminding her that just because someone she trusts forwards her the email doesn’t necessarily mean the content of the email is true.  I am constantly asking her if she checked snopes.com or at the very least googled what she is taking for truth. 

And finally, what are some of your expectations for this class?

I am SO excited about this class.  I am really looking forward to diving into the different topics each week.  I think this class is going to give me a great overview of what constitutes “educational technology.”

Educational Technology Philosophy

I believe that technology can be used to further a student’s education in ways we have only begun to imagine.  I believe that technology, if used effectively can begin to close the gap between our at-risk and high achieving students.  This is what led me to pursue educational technology.  

I want the participants in my training sessions (be it professional development or a classroom of kindergartners) to take the knowledge I give them and use it effectively in their own situations.  I want them to have such an understanding of the skill that they are able to “tweak” it in order to make it most effective for them.

As the educator, I need to be able to transfer knowledge from my “head” to that of my students/participants in a meaningful way.  My students should be able to walk away from the session and teach others how to use their new skill. 

I believe that teachers must provide students with real-world learning situations.  By providing this type of learning environment, teachers are giving students invaluable experiences in which to master and retain the skills taught. 

Teachers should also give students opportunities to “think through” and discover knowledge by encouraging higher level thinking.  This will give students the needed practice to be able to use these higher level thinking skills in every area of their learning and throughout their lives.

When learning is student centered, they become more responsible for their own learning.  Teachers should not be the center of learning.

I think that as educators we must also be activists in a way.  We need to be willing to change and PROMOTE change.  Our students learning styles are deeply embedded in technology.  When an 18 month old child knows how to open and use an app on an iphone it stands to reason that our 5-18yr old students possess excellent technology skills as well. 

I believe that technology is a tool for accessing infinite information.  If my students are learning a new skill, using technology can allow them to do anything from having an e-learning session from a team at MIT to participating in a discussion about British literature with students from China.  They can also use the technology to enhance and express what they are discovering around them.

As an educator, I need to be a facilitator.  My students should have the freedom to discover new ways to explore learning.  The skill is what I want them to obtain.  The path they take to get there is an adventure!  I may very well have the next Bill Gates, Steven Hawking, or Mark Zuckerberg in my class.