LD1: Rushton Hurley Lecture
After viewing Rushtonin Hurley's opening keynote, I found myself inspired. I was inspired by Hurley's words that a teacher is an unperfect actor. We need to find ways to learn with the students. Hurley states, "Embrace your unperfection." Teachers tend to get nervous about technology. However, we can not continue to teach like we taught ten, 20 years ago. We need to find new techniques to do things.
Secondly, as teachers we need to know what others, share ideas and celebrate the expertise around us. I love the example of getting people to use stairs instead of the escalator because it is fun (piano). I relate best along these lines, as I teach preschoolers and am always looking for ways to make learning fun and engaging. For example, using Tux Paint to learn letters and letter sounds.
Lastly, on a personal note, if we are going to use technolgy we have to be willing to explore. Hurley states it best when he questions what teachers are doing, "Are we doing things to inspire the spirit?" Teachers contiually say they don't have time, Hurley says, "Think about how you are using the time."
Neuron Function also wins my vote. It was quick to the point and made connections to real-life situations. For example, tree branches being dendrites and and egg being a soma. Within 60 seconds I had a quick review of neuron function and a mental image in my head that I can relate to.
LD2: Marc Presnsky on Gaming
In response to Marc Prensky's "Engage Me or Enrage Me" keynote, I was enlightened with his ideas of how digital game based learning can be more that just fun. Although many would disagree, but I have never been opposed to "video games". My daughters play a Sims game periodically that requires building a house, creating a family, jobs, etc. Although it's their entertainment or escape from reality at the moment, they are still involved in problem solving, math skills, decision making, collaboration, etc. Prensky would state that this is not related to the content, but teaches skills we want them to learn.
I can agree with Prensky about letting kids be involved in gaming and teachers using it to teach other lessons. It is a great way to connect with the kids at their level and get them engaged. Prensky says it best when he states, "Value what kids do!" Talk about games. For example, "Who plays a game that is an example of ____?" Use principles of games. This goes beyond the images or eye candy that Prensky refers to. There are goals in the game play, like being a hero. Use games to get the class engaged to lead discussion within the content.
LD3: Alan November Lecture
After listening to Dr. Alan November’s three webcasts, it was apparent that teachers need to pay attention to what children are doing outside of the classroom with technology. Inside the classroom, teachers need to use this technology to teach three vital skills. Dr. November promotes teaching information processing where students learn to organize information. Teaching our students to work globally as in outsourcing, organizing people to solve problems and teach our students to work. Lastly, teach to be self directed. Hire people who don’t need a boss to work because these people are self-disciplined.
As with many the readings we have been involved in this semester, there seems to be a trend in shifting the control of learning to the students and families. I like the statement that Dr. November made during the “Emerging Culture of Teaching and Learning” webcast, “Student’s should own their own learning.”
Technology can be challenging for many teachers and students. However, it is changing our future. In the final webcast, Dr. November discussed classroom jobs that would be suitable for upper elementary and beyond. These jobs include official notetaking scribe, curriculum review podcasters, design teams for tutorial screencasts, and official researchers to answer questions. He states that these jobs are self-directed and teachers need to stop answering questions. I can see his point but also believe that at some steps in the process the “jobs” will be teacher directed and structured. I enjoyed this webcast tremendously, along with all the student video clips that were created.
LD4: Using Twitter in Education
@rleneway L.Fisher was very informative in regards to Twitter.I liked the fisher rule of tweets being 1/3 humor, 1/3 info. and 1/3 misc.
Leslie Fisher explains use of Twitter in education
K.Walsh explains Six Examples of Using Twitter in Education
LD5: Social Media in Education
During Will Richardson’s lecture on Social Media in Schools, it was apparent that schools aren’t changing fast enough compared to the world around our students. Educators need to teach students how to go out and find answers and be models in Social Media because no one is teaching them. Furthermore, it was noted that educators need to rethink plagiarism because everything is online and everyone can post online. Society is also on its way to being a paper less world.
Group forming seems to be a trend where people can pursue their passion outside the classroom and connect with others that have similar or contrasting opinions. There seems to be a shift to publish information and editing later. This is how we tend to follow social media and contributes to our digital footprint. Educators need to help kids create a positive digital footprint. An audience member asked how to implement this and Richardson replied with a 4-step model. The 4-step model consisted of:
Sharing (ex. publishing essays)
Cooperation (ex. sharing links on twitter)
Collaboration (ex. creating a textbook)
Collective Action (ex. charitable site)
Richardson, Will. Social Media in Schools.(2009) Retrieved on November, 18th, 2011 from http://vodpod.com/watch/1874988-will-richardson-on-social-media-and-schools
