So how many times do you dread going to class? The lectures and note taking create a classroom full of bored students. Interaction with fellow classmates or just talking to the students, help them be apart of the classroom. A student from Virgina said, "If you don't talk to us, you have no idea what we're thinking." Children want interaction, being able to move out of their seats in the classroom. Our society is now based on technology generation. If you ask most students they will agree that technology should be included in their education. It is something that they are familiar with and they can relate to. A California student said, "Kids grew up around computers. They love them. Their computers are their second teachers at home." I personally believe that we could change that and make their teachers and schooling their first education.
Kids have always been really bored at school, they need something to grab their attentions. Teachers need something to reconnect them with their students. There are many ways to create that connection. The children need to regain that spark in their eyes. I believe one of the way is bringing technology into the schools. One of the most appreciated and newest technology in the classrooms are smartboards. The role of smartboards are to motivate and energize the students about learning. They are just like chalkboards but offer so much more interaction between students and teachers. Smartboards create a fun learning environment in the classroom. Another way is providing computers in the rooms or schools. Not every child needs a computer but its an option of setting up a small corner of your room dedicated to a computer lab. The interactive games that the computers offers help with the learning process. Since they are so familiar with computers it will become so natural to them. Allowing every room to have a television to play movies or short segments that can relate to the topic in classroom, give the student a different perspective on the lesson. Another easy way is just by bringing music into the classroom. It allows movement and creates a fun and creative classroom. The newest things schools could consider is having Wiis in their classrooms. Wii is an interactive video game. They now offer games that make the child do physical activities and learn at the same time. Some games that are available for Wiis are "Little League World Series" and "The Big Brain". By presenting your lessons in different forms it creates a more open learning area. Really children just want to be heard.
Truly is comes down to one thing, if you were a parent would you want your child exposed to that much technology in the classroom? Would it enhance your child's learning? Or do you think they become more addicted? Does it take away from their learning?
Sources
Magazine: Edutodia June/July 2008
"Young Minds, Fast Times"- "How tech-obsessed iKids would improve our schools.
Written bby Marc Prensky
"Wii Love Learning"- Written by Laila Weir
Kids have always been really bored at school, they need something to grab their attentions. Teachers need something to reconnect them with their students. There are many ways to create that connection. The children need to regain that spark in their eyes. I believe one of the way is bringing technology into the schools. One of the most appreciated and newest technology in the classrooms are smartboards. The role of smartboards are to motivate and energize the students about learning. They are just like chalkboards but offer so much more interaction between students and teachers. Smartboards create a fun learning environment in the classroom. Another way is providing computers in the rooms or schools. Not every child needs a computer but its an option of setting up a small corner of your room dedicated to a computer lab. The interactive games that the computers offers help with the learning process. Since they are so familiar with computers it will become so natural to them. Allowing every room to have a television to play movies or short segments that can relate to the topic in classroom, give the student a different perspective on the lesson. Another easy way is just by bringing music into the classroom. It allows movement and creates a fun and creative classroom. The newest things schools could consider is having Wiis in their classrooms. Wii is an interactive video game. They now offer games that make the child do physical activities and learn at the same time. Some games that are available for Wiis are "Little League World Series" and "The Big Brain". By presenting your lessons in different forms it creates a more open learning area. Really children just want to be heard.
Truly is comes down to one thing, if you were a parent would you want your child exposed to that much technology in the classroom? Would it enhance your child's learning? Or do you think they become more addicted? Does it take away from their learning?
Sources
Magazine: Edutodia June/July 2008
"Young Minds, Fast Times"- "How tech-obsessed iKids would improve our schools.
Written bby Marc Prensky
"Wii Love Learning"- Written by Laila Weir
21 comments:
If I were a parent I would definatley want my child to use technology, but I would limit the time usage. I believe that is important for childrent to use smartboards and educational games in the classroom, but they should not use them 24/7. Technology should not get so advanced that children learn how to type before they learn to write. Like, I said before children need time to play outside and just be kids.
I definitely agree that children should learn the basics like writing than typing. I also think it's a great idea to use various tools to get the goal of your lesson accomplished. Children learn in different ways, and the technology tools could certainly help them. Using wiis and things like that, I would use for "free time" to have fun and educational games available. With using so much technology like the blog suggested, I would hope that the other areas of learning are still being touched on. For instance, I would hope that art is still taught on paper and paint, instead of on a digital screen.
If I were a parent, I would of course want my child using technology in the classroom as well as in the home setting. Technology has played a large role in my life and the things I do on a daily basis. However, I do not think that a Wii should be placed in a classroom. I agree that there are educational games that children can use, but I don't think they should be placed in the classroom. If that was the case, my brother would LITERALLY play video games every hour of the day.. besides when he sleeps.
Just like my blog, I feel that technology is important for all children and is not a negative aspect in the classroom unless inappropriately used. I don't think that children would become addicted as long as it is not overused at school or at home. It's obviously important in society today, so we should not prevent children from learning it. It's going to be more a part of their lives than it was for us.
I would want my children to be exposed to technology in school but I'm not sure about the Nintendo Wii. I've played one and you really don't have to move that much.
I agree that children should be able to learn in the classroom with technology. I think that the technology that the teachers use should be different (don't use a computer the whole time). I think that the smartboards are a very good idea. There are many different things you can do with a smartboard and different ways to get children to interact.
I definitely agree with everyone that technology should be limited and can be addicting. Video games are especially addicting and so are computer programs like facebook, myspace, blogs, etc. This is why parents should encourage that child play outside or with friends when they can and limit their time with technology.
I agree with Gina. Technology can be great for helping students learn, but there is still a real world out there and children should get a chance to go see things like that and not just watching an HD movie or play an interactive game on a computer.
Everyone agrees that technology is essential in the classroom but when is it too much? When do we stop the children? How would feel if it took over classes, like music? At some point do you believe that technology will take over the interactions in the classroom?
I think technology should be used with discretion. Once it is being used in the school with no educational purpose than quit. Home is when kids should have the opportunity to play wiis and other video games. It's a good tool to use though to reach kid's different learning styles.
I think, along with Melissa, that technology should be used with discretion. I think ideas such as using music, smart boards, and computers should all be used--but sparingly. I think, however, that some people forget how much children can learn through their outside environment. Instead of relying so much on technology at all times and for all subjects, take the students outside and incorporate their natural environment into their studies. If nature can be incorporated, it offers another learning experience as well as another way of understanding for the children. We shouldn't forget about what has naturally been handed down to us. There are many ways to use nature in teaching students concepts.
Katie has definately brought up a good point...it also goes with last year's theme for the unviersity. The book, Last Child in the Woods mentioned various tools children learn from being outside and experiencing it, not just "exposed" to it. It stated that children learn leadership skills, imagination, creativity, and so many other skills. One example asked you to think of all the skills you needed to build a treehouse. While building you used math to measure the dimensions, geometry to figure the angles and slope of the the roof, and so on. So, nature is one important experience and tool to be used and not forgotten.
Classes like music and art should not really involve the use of much technology, especially in elementary classrooms. Children should learn by hands-on activity and not be staring at a tv or computer screens.
You know, this is kind of off the topic, but one thing that I keep on wondering about when we talk about technology in the classroom, is how much wider will the education gap become when some schools are able to afford the top of the line technology, while others are still trying to get running computers in their school? I do not think that all schools should meet at the lower standard, that is since some schools are not able to have smartboards, none should. But I do believe that it is a problem that needs solving. How do we introduce technology without widening the educational gap? How do we help with schools who can't afford to be equipped with up to date technology? I think that everyone would agree we need to do something, but would everyone agree to personally help the situation? For example, instead of each school being dependent on the property taxes of the residents around that school, what if the state pooled all property taxes and divided them evenly among all state schools? How responsible are we personally for every child's education? And how far are we willing to go to be held responsible?
Also, just out of curiousity, do you think that it could be considered hands on to create art or music on the computer Gina? Not really taking sides, just want to know what you think.
And I definitely agree about learning through nature. Some of my best lessons have been taught outside using the landscape as tools for learning.
I agree with Melissa and Katie. Technology is great when used properly and with discretion but once it's not being used for learning a teacher should stop using it.
I believe that once technology is becomming the only thing that children want to use it is becomming to much. Also if children are being forced to use it then it is to much also. Children shouldn't be forced at all to have to use technology.
Sorry I didn't comment sooner on your blog -- very interesting!
I was at school this summer where they were building a whole PE wing focused on alternate physical education choices - one of them being the Wii. Part of the reason they were doing it is for special education students who don't have the mobility to compete in regular physical activity!
Thats interesting because at my high school some of the choices you had when we worked out was the DDR and the wii. I think this is a good idea because it makes working out fun. Also where i worked this summer had the bikes that you ride while looking at a screen to race other people on.
I disagree with Megan! I think that students should be forecd to use technology within reason! Although some students may not want to contribute when it comes to technology, them being forced to could spark intrest and turn into a hobby.
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