After looking at Dale’s Learning Cone we see that teachers talking at students is the least effective way to teach. Jukes, McCain, and Crockett say that most teachers will resist changing their teaching style because that is how they were taught, they have to get their students ready for the test, or that it is what they are comfortable doing. Is this something that you see in your school? What do you think would be a good way to help teachers change their teaching style to be more applicable to the digital student? Also what are your thoughts on standardized tests? Do you think there should be a different form of assessment since we are teaching a new generation of students? If so what do you think it should be? I know that I have just asked a lot of questions you do not have to answer them all just pick a few and give your thoughts on it.
Cell phones have a been a struggle in my district. Like you, and Jukes, mentioned, cell phones are a great tool to access digital learners, but there are so many struggles with them. Students quickly have access to each other via social media. Fights are now coordinated on the internet instead of word of mouth. This has been an issue where I am and we have struggled to nip these issues in the bud. Second, how can we make sure that they are using them as a tool for education, instead of playing the latest game? I see a sea of faces looking at their Ipads and cell phones, but I have not a clue on what they are looking at. Maybe we need to start with a level of trust of the students? Making sure they are making the proper decisions? What penalties should there be, if any, for improper use? Technology is moving so fast, it's hard to keep up. Great thoughts Amy.
ReplyDeleteI love your idea about students accessing information then presenting their findings. There is so much conversation about how students can access data, but it is necessary to find if they truly understand concepts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt, in my school it seems most teachers teach how they were taught. Cell phones are a problem in our district at the middle school level as well. I have heard some high school teachers allowing students to use them for problem solving. My school doesn't allow the use of cellphones, ipods etc at school at any time, and now there are mixed feelings about students reading on ipods and ebooks. I personally allow two student in my study hall to, but today spotted one girl NOT reading but drawing on an application. As far as trusting students, its hard with middle schoolers, they are so sneaky!
ReplyDeleteStandardized testing is obviously not the best type of assessment. Especially for students like me who have horrible memory and test anxiety, most standardized testing was a nightmare for me! There are more effective and accurate ways to assess growth and progress.
Hey Samantha My school is the same way, most of the teachers teach the way that they were taught. We have a strict no cell phone policy (they can have cell phones out at lunch only). If a phone is seen outside of lunch then it is immediately confiscated and taken to the office where the student can pay $20 and then turn their phone in every day for a week. We had to do this because the cell phones were causing the students to get distracted in class. I will sometimes let my student use their phones in study hall to look up information for their homework but even then they end up not getting their work done so I have them put it away. I think if I were to allow students to use cell phone in my class we, as a class, would first have to come up with standards for appropriate use of cell phones and what the consequences are for not using them appropriately in class.
DeleteCell phones definitely can cause problems in schools such as social media sites, cyberbullying, inappropriate messages/pics/songs, etc. I can see how teachers would love to allow their students to use their phones as educational tools because you can do SO much on phones these days. However, is there a real, true way to ensure that students are using the"tools" appropriately?! I don't have an answer for this but maybe someone else does?!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.education.com/magazine/article/cell_phone_learning/
The above link is an article I read about cell phones. The author talks about how a teacher was teaching about the ecosystem and allowed students to use their phones to document pictures of insects. The students were obviously excited and engaged about using their phones and it was a great way to utilize cell phones as part of a lesson/activity!
"A Kelsey" mentioned that teachers need to receive training on different digital devices. I definitely agree with this. Teachers also need to be WILLING to go to the training and learn! I can't help but think that some of the older generation teachers are afraid of technology and afraid of learning about technology because it isn't what they are accustomed to. However, this is WHY teachers are life long learners and WHY training is offered!
It is sad to say but I see so many teachers teaching the "old way" and I do not see them changing their ways anytime soon. This frustrates me because I am currently just started a long term sub job and am constantly looking for ways I can incorporate the Smart Board and anything to do with their netbooks. The students love being able to use technology and they even ask for when they can use it.
ReplyDeleteI saw some people mention cell phone usage. I do believe it would be hard to control students using their phone for their own personal use (Face book, instagram, etc.) so I think that using the netbooks or going to a computer lab and being able to monitor their use would be a better option.
I was curious about how to monitor cell phone use as well. The only thing I don't like about the lab utilization would be that the use of technology would be an isolated event, not a spur of the moment, able to find information quickly situation. I just wonder what would be appropriate to use to allow students consistent access to technology for all subjects and at all times. For some districts, I would not believe that it would be financially achievable to provide ipads or notebooks for each student. I would like to see availability increase for these types of integration.
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