The ISTE standards include student qualities such as being a Learner, Leader, Citizen, Collaborator, Designer, Facilitator and an Analyst. If we can teach kids to use their technology to accomplish these ideals, students will get the most out of their educational experience. However, teachers have to be on board with the idea of using social media and technology in the classroom:
A lot of teachers are afraid that this tech is too distracting and that kids won't want to focus on school while using their devices. While this may be true, speaking from experience (just in the past two days) I've learned so many ways to use technology that I never even knew were possible! There are apps out there that create a social media-like network system for classrooms where students can post pictures, videos, drawings, writing assignments, etc.. This teaching ability allows students to have choices in the process of learning and in presenting material. When students are given a choice in how they want to learn, they become more motivated and will want to work hard.
I'm excited at the possibility of technology as its presence in the classroom grows. As an upcoming teacher, I am willing to learn about this technology if it means more student engagement and quality work!
Good post, I had a conversation about all of this with my mentor teacher and there's one more big hurdle depending on where you are, and that is money. Her classroom has 4 computers and there are only another 18 available throughout the school but are primarily used by the lower grades. (she teaches 6th). I would love to pitch some of these ideas and try to make them work! The kids would get so much out of these types of lessons.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Connectivism! Tech in the classroom! ISTE standards! Rah rah rah!
ReplyDeleteAs a younger generation of teachers with a higher degree of tech literacy, I think we will serve an important function in our schools as advocates for increased integration of technology into the classroom. If you end up in a school with very limited tech available, or one that isn't open to things like flipped classrooms and project based learning, we can still do our best to make the case for these things to our administrators and school boards. Overtime, as more and more young tech-literate teachers enter the classroom, I think we'll see a radical and positive shift in education across the board.
Great post!
I agree with Jeremy. Tech is invading (becoming apart of to sound less aggressive) schools, and yet, not all of them. If we do or do not teach at schools where tech is a big part, it still will be apart of the kids lives in other ways, just not from schools. But if the school next door is teched out and yours isn't, that is where being a great teacher and educator comes into play more so than the technology. Each kid could have an iPad but not be learning versus the teacher that is playing games, doing activities, etc with their kids and they love attending class. The teacher (and a hint of tech) will make the difference in the kids we teach.
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