Michael Wesch just took my brain and memory on a roller coaster ride with his video From Knowledge to Knowledge-able. I can remember a lot of my firsts when talking about technology. I might not have realized it at the time but along with each first I can reflect on how each of them changed my life. My fist VCR, I still remember shopping for it. It was the first one that would be in the family home and it was in my room. I remember how it transformed how I could watch TV. I could record shows and watch them whenever I wanted to. My first cell phone. I could be reached no matter where I was. I remember how the cell phone transformed from a device for calling into a device that now makes it, as Wesch has stated, ridiculously easy to
I can remember my firsts and as a teacher I can remember the firsts that relate to my job and I can recognize the manner in which these firsts have transformed my classroom and have forced me to transform how I view my role as an educator. My role just eight short years ago the day I set foot in my very first classroom was like Wesch's class at Kansas State University. I was all knowing and my students should pay attention and learn from me. | Today's second graders were born with technology at their reach. They are already hardwired to be knowledge-able. In fact not addressing and fostering this skill is a disservice to them. That is what I struggle with on a daily basis. These kids' thinking is constantly moving at a rate that I do not feel that I can keep up with. They have been exposed to more information than some of us had by the time we were in high school. So, how do I keep them engaged? How much of the archaic stuff like pencil and paper to I demand that they use? Am I denying them their full potential when I ask them to close their Ipad when I am talking to them? Am I asking too much of them when I ask them to do things quietly? My students are natural collaborators and in order to collaborate they need to talk. BUT, I got in trouble for talking so my classroom is going to be quiet too. Education is not what it used to be. I must keep up with the changes if I am to arm my students with the tools that they need today for these are the tools that they will use to be able to keep up with technology and continue to be knowledge-able. |
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CategoriesRaquel RudderI am a student of technology. Archives
December 2014
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