I believe that students learn best when they are actually active participants in the learning. . Education today should be all about the 21st century learning skills – critical and creative thinking, collaboration, technology, inquiry… Today, technology plays an enormous role in students’ lives and educators must adjust existing mindsets about teaching and learning. Since students are so absorbed in technology outside of the classroom, then it is apparently significant to them and integrating technology into the learning environment would make the learning more important to students. I do believe that a mix of several learning theories is necessary to successfully engage today’s student population of technology learners … and I strongly feel that giving students choices in learning methods and activities will boost learning. Check out this link from Creative Commons for some details about student choice: http://www.personalizelearning.com/2012/02/10-tips-to-encourage-voice-and-choice.html .
Karen,
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with you that students learn best when they are actively involved in their learning. As you mentioned, they should be taught the necessary skills to be successful in the 21st century. My concern is that our young students are allowed to be numbed by many of the technological gadgets, such as phones, tablets or any other media, that they do not know how to be critical thinkers or creative. All they want is for the information to come to them. Knowing where to find the right answer. As educators, what are we doing to change that?
On the other hand, I see that you are utilizing a variety of learning theories, as well as giving student choices. In my opinion, choices are crucial for learning to take place. When students are given choices, they become motivated. If motivated, real learning occurs. Sometimes we, adult educators, limit our student’s potential and hinder their creativity. It is time to change that!
Thank you for your post!
Gus
Gus -
DeleteYou are so right about the gadgets and lack of initiative in many of our students. I am trying to work more toward task based learning and problem based learning, with more open ended questions. The students will need to be taught how to become problem solvers - I know that many of us (myself included) have become masters of the multiple choice test - something we have to move away from if we want to help the students develop more higher level thinking skills.
Thanks fo ryour response
Personalized learning is a great concept. My concern, as a teacher, is that there is not enough time in the schedule to cover the given objectives. The ideas on the personalized learning website involve substantial, additional class time. Taking the extra time is not always possible when a teacher is expected to go at the same pace as the other teachers in the department. Does anyone have any ideas on how this may be accomplished, given the time constraints in the classroom?
ReplyDeleteStudents use technology for social networking and gaming. Many do not know how to use their technology in educational situations. For example, students need to learn how to determine sources of material and whether the material is accurate and true. Students also need to learn how to consolidate great amounts of data from various sources. These types of skills require critical thinking and problem solving. Perhaps, educators should raise their expectations and teach students how to use technology as a learning tool.
Using technology to personalize the learning is one way to manage the process of personalized learning. I am currently involved in content writing for a new program we will be starting at my school in the upcoming year. We will be loading tutorials, videos, interactive sites, games....based on specific concepts. Then, the gradebook will be tied to the system. When a student does poorly on a formative or summative assessment, the program will automatically assign learning activities to these students through this program. I am so excited to see if it really is going to work - if so, I will be one happy camper!
DeleteI agree students do learn when the are active. I thought of my daughter when I read you post. She day dreams in class when the teacher lectures. When she first started school they wanted to put her on medicine to help her focus. This was 6 years ago. Today they have more technology in class which makes a difference. Technology provides a different way for students to learn.
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely agree! Eclecticism is essential to utilizing language theories. Not all students learn in the same way. Therefore it is important to look at different angles to engage them. Utilizing different technologies, as you mention, also allows for a repertoire that is likely to assist more learners in their quest for knowledge.