03.17.08
Keeping up with the kids
Some teachers find it difficult to navigate their way around a computer while their students are fluent in using digital media. The article “Listen to the Natives” suggests that the teachers should be seeking students’ assistance to keep up in order to keep the students engaged in learning. But the teachers who require students’ support may find it difficult to ask. Today’s students have grown up using a variety of technology and continue to develop their skills as they learn through discovery, teaching themselves. Involving students in the development of technology based learning can result in students finding inventive ways to include digital media within the classroom – digital tools becoming like extensions of the students themselves, the article purports. Sharing their knowledge of technology, the article suggests that students can become a teacher’s best resource, advising on which technology teachers should use in classrooms to ensure learning tools are being used in the most effective means possible. Teacher-student collaboration can capitalise on individual student’s digital skills and knowledge, student’s benefiting as they can incorporate these into the current curriculum. Listening to the students, valuing and including their ideas within the classroom creates a meaningful learning experience. The students know what they’re doing in regards to digital media; teachers should be encouraged to utilise the students’ knowledge to integrate these tools into the classroom.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimiw/1878701132/
April 2, 2008 at 7:31 am
I believe that students can be a great resource for teachers…however, they shouldn’t have to be. So many advances have been developed for use in the classroom ranging anywhere from online educational videos to digital student portfolios. There are lots of unique technological nuggets available to enhance education, most of which students know little about. The best way for teachers to be able to use all of the gold that is available through the internet, computers, and other interactive technology is to take professional development courses. If the government would be willing to set aside a few extra dollars for this professional development, we wouldn’t have to worry about the awkward situation in a classroom when the teacher is standing in front of 25 students asking if anyone knows how to work the gizmo they thought they could use!
June 16, 2008 at 2:29 pm
[...] are struggling to keep up with their students when it comes to technology. Lauren made an interesting post about this, stating that the involvement of students in the development of their own learning is [...]