Quote: "Simply put, we can’t keep preparing students for a world that doesn’t exist. We can’t keep ignoring the formidable cognitive skills they’re developing on their own. And above all, we must stop disparaging digital prowess just because some of us over 40 don’t happen to possess it. An institutional grudge match with the young can sabotage an entire culture."
Reaction: I could not agree more with this particular quote. I have had many teachers that have been in the field for 25 years or more and that refuse to even try and get in to or keep up with the digital age. It is a constant battle because these teachers just want to continue to do things the way they have always been done instead of trying to adjust to the way that students growing up in today's world learn and achieve. While I understand that sometimes it is necessary to use methods such as lecturing to teach a lesson, I think it is a great crime to students not to take advantage of all of the new technologies that could be used to make learning more personal and likeable for each student. Students are capable of doing a lot more and learning a lot more than what they are given credit for. I think that if they are given the opportunity to use the technologies that they've grown up with and enjoy having, then students will become much more engaged and ultimately achieve more in school.
Reference:
Heffernan, Virginia. (2011, August 7). Education needs a digital-age upgrade. The New York Times , Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/education-needs-a-digital-age-upgrade/?hp
Related Resources: Throughout the article, Heffernan refers to the "institutional grudge match" that is occuring between students and educators. The article Upgrading Schools for A Digital World by John Florez talks more about why the education system needs to catch up with the digital age that we live in.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700170486/Upgrading-schools-for-a-digital-world.html
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYour blog format is perfect! You are correct in stating that students are more likely to be engaged when given the opportunity to use technology tools.
Sarah, I liked what you said about "teachers refusing to try to keep up with the digital age." I totally agree. Some teachers are too stuborn to realize that the times are changing and their teaching styles need to change with it. What worked 20 years ago may not be as effective today. Good Journal entry! :-)
ReplyDeleteFantastic
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about alot of techers that have been in the field refusing to stay up to date on technology used. Also glad that you stated how students are more intrigued by using technology in lessons
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!! As teachers we should know what our students think and try our best to think the way they do. Communication and understanding in the classroom between learners and educators are really critical. Never force our students to do something unwillingly.
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