I enjoyed reading Prensky’s article. I agree that it is important as educators that we understand that students are fluent in computers and the internet and that they learn through gameplay. These are 21st century skills that we need to emphasize in our classrooms.
I also agree that we can become better teachers of technology once we recognize and accept our own comfort level with technology. Once we do this we can better contribute to the learning of our students. I really liked the way Prensky described “digital natives” and “digital immigrants”. I grew up in the age of typewriters and before I knew it I was thrown into the world of computers, so I definitely see myself as a digital immigrant. Another important way in which we can become better teachers of technology is to learn to act as advisors and coaches to our students rather than lecturers. Through the use of technology we can let our students be involved in leading the discussion in the classroom. This is important because it allows students to take responsibility for their own learning which hopefully will keep them interested in the curriculum.
There were two points mentioned in the Prensky article that I do not necessarily agree with. The first deals with his point that students should be allowed to choose the groups they want to work with. I agree with this to a point. We should give students the freedom to choose their own groups some of the time, but it is also important that the students learn to work with others outside of their own comfort level. When they go into society they are not always going to be able to pick and choose who they want to work with. In addition, when students are allowed to work with people outside of their social circle it opens them up to new and hopefully different areas of information and knowledge that they would not have necessarily been exposed to.
The other point mentioned in the article concerns the use of cell phones in the classroom to teach about technology. Maybe this is the digital immigrant in me, but when he mentioned this I instantly thought of those students who may not have cell phones, in addition, I was thinking of the extra cost that the additional downloading, texting would add to the cell phone bill. I suppose the fact that I am recognizing this potential flaw in my thinking is the first step to opening up to the use of this type of technology in the classroom.
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2 comments:
Dee-
I totally agree with you on the Cell phone issue. I am glad that you brought up the potential issue of students who do not have cell phones and the issue of cost. I didn't think of these two in my response to the article. I totally agree that students who didn't have cell phones would certainly feel left out and would probably be made fun of. In addition, the cost to run a "cell phone educational program" would be costly and would most likely be time consuming to the teacher. I mostly found it hard to understand why any teacher would allow students to use cell phones in the classroom. Cell phones are a nuissance and continually prove to be despite their amazing features. It just seems so silly for teachers to welcome these distracting devices into the classroom. A question for you too. Do you think that cell phones would cause more problems, like cheating on tests or sexual harassment? Thanks! :)
-Nate
Dee,
I appreciate your optimistic reaction to Prensky's article. He lost me pretty quickly as he seemed to paint today's youth as little technological wizards far too clever for today's adults.
I suppose we can regard Prensky's description of the "gap" between students and adults as a unique opportunity for interaction between teachers and students. It did seem that Prensky brought some urgency to his thoughts, which I didn't understand. Teachers have no need to be alarmed that they've lost a generation to enigmatic digital contraptions. I believe if provoked in friendly conversation, kids would gladly reveal whatever technological tricks they may hold up their sleeves.
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