After watching the videos, the two that stuck for me were The Future Starts Now – 2012 edition and
Future Learning | Mini Documentary | Good.
In The
Future Starts Now – 2012 edition, information and communication
technology (ICT) is looked at as an educational tool. Though schools may have
access to this technology, it is rarely implemented in ways that truly benefit
students. The video proposes that better use of this technology could connect
students on a level more familiar to them with their education, and ideally
increase graduation rates. The video focuses on Norway moving to become a “knowledge
based society” (that is, build an economy based on citizen’s knowledge, as
opposed to oil and resource trade), but really applies to any country at the moment. The video proposes “computers can teach us
to learn things in different ways.” With elements of multimedia, networked
communication, and access to so much information, I feel it is fair to say
computers can teach us to learn things in different ways. Another good point is made in that connecting to students with newer technology is absolutely vital.
Students are using all kinds of newer technology outside the class, and having
teachers integrate it more meaningfully into education seems to engage students
on a level they’re comfortable with.
Future
Learning | Mini Documentary | Good is another video that addresses
student interaction with technology. Early in the video, a big problem we deal
with all the time in education is brought up – lack of student motivation. The
video claims the current model of education stifles motivation. It claims
there’s too much repetition and it’s all a bit irrelevant to the students’ real
lives. I think that’s something a lot of us may agree with, but it’s still
unclear how to address that exactly. The most meaningful moment in this video, for me,
was challenging the goals of education. Are reading, writing, and arithmetic
really antiquated goals for education? It sounds a bit forward, but I tend to agree with the idea that they could be at some point in the near future. Another part that
resonated with me was the critique that, though schools may be implementing
cutting edge technology, the content taught with this new technology is often fundamentally
dated. If the content were truly interesting, the students would be engaged by
their own curiosity. Content provided outside the context in which students
could use it leaves it disconnected from their reality, and the things they
study in class seem irrelevant when they leave school.
The use of technology to
build an environment in which students are active participants and can connect
their education experience to making real-life accomplishments is a natural and
efficient way to keep students interested and motivated.
I liked what you had to say about using cutting-edged technology to teach outdated material. Making sure that what students are doing to build knowledge and skill-sets for being "college and career ready" are fundamental not only to the CCLS but to the way students buy into their own learning.
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