The idea from "Did You Know 4.0" that it is easier than ever to reach people but harder to connect really spoke to me. There are so many ways to reach the students of today, but it has become extremely difficult to figure out how best to do that.
When the speaker in "Those Wacky Kids" referenced co-presence, I could immediately relate. I am frequently amused when my students say that they didn't know about a particular assignment or event because they were gone from school, but if there was a piece of gossip floating around or a confrontational incident, they know all about that due to their connectivity. I suppose that one of our challenges as teachers is to bridge the gap toward communicating across space useful, rather than generally useless, information. Communication is a powerful tool if utilized properly, and rather than shutting it down completely, we should harness the influence that it can have upon spreading the proper things.
While I agreed with many points Thomas Friedman made in "The World is Flat," I also feel that it is quite easy to remain isolated in the present world. The introduction of the do-all Smart Phone enables people to go off into their own little world, do only the things they want to do, and not be challenged with new ideas and tastes (all related to the dying art of conversation). Constructivism has its place, but without at least some guidelines I have found that a lot of today's students will generally drift toward what they already know and like. I try to use today's technologies to showcase "old-school" skills or information. While I am not always successful with this, it helps to keep students more focused while also introducing them to things they may not have previously encountered and likely will not if they simply remain with what is familiar to them.
"The Mr. Winkle Wakes" video skewered the fact that schools have not changed recently. I think that in education we do need to keep up with new technologies to maintain student interest but a wholesale revamping of what school is and how it works would not be in the best interests of the students or teachers. There should remain a bifurcation of what we are in our free time versus what we are in our work/professional time. Students can certainly have their "hyperconnectivity" when appropriate, but even today few jobs afford people that kind of freedom while they are at work. That is why I feel we should meet somewhere in the middle with students without completely converting to that style.
First of all, "bifurcation"? Thanks more making me look that one up so early in the class. :o) Seriously though, I had some issue with "Those Wacky Kids". On many levels, I agree with him. My biggest issue though is that he was extremely thin (other than foreign language learning and geography) on real solutions to be utilized. That is symptomatic of many out there who feel that we teachers are losers because our kids are just so far above us. Bah! While the need to meet the students where they are on many levels is vital, fact is, most of these students couldn't think there way out of a tic tac toe game vs their 4 year old sibling. That in and of itself is any issue.
ReplyDeleteSmart phones are wonderful devices. I absolute love mine. I can honestly say though, I use it for me than texting, facebook, and my portable music device. I love the fact that things that interest me are at my disposal and I do not have to wait to find more information about it. If our students were using it for that, I wouldn't have near the problem I have now. Fact is though, many, I venture to say most (from my personal experience and interactions) don't use it for that, they use it for youtube, facebook, etc. Frustrating indeed.