Hello,
Think back to when you were in school, what are the current differences in learning, socializing, technologies, and instructional strategies?
Please watch this short video on the overall effects social networking has had on today's youth.
How are we as educators bridge these gaps? What do you think will happen if we do not?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I graduated in 1997 from high school. I think the greatest difference now is the endless amount of information (correct and incorrect) at the hands of students today. Socializing through the cell phone and computer is obviously much different today than even five years ago. Students do not communicate with each other face to face as much. Instructional strategies have not changed as much. Cooperative learning and thinking maps are still vastly utilized today as they were at my high school twelve years ago.
ReplyDeleteI feel as an educator technology can always enhance your instructional strategies. I think technology becomes useless if you do not have classroom management and a nurturing teacher/student realtionship. Building relationships with students fosters a positive learning environment. A classroom can have all of the latest technology; but, if the students realize that the teacher doesn't care about them or there is no consistency in discipline then the technology is useless. Technology is only as good as the teacher using it. Technology is important presently where the use of technology is widespread; but it should not be the only instructional technique used in the classroom. Instructional techniques not only teach material but also build useful social skills. Children still need to practice communication skills, build teamwork, etc to be functional and successful into today's world.
In relation to the video, I think that building relationships with students and promoting character education, teachers may be able to prevent such tragedies as suicide. I just read an article in Parents magazine which stated that 43% of children on-line are cyber bullied compared to only 18% (yes, this is still high) that are contacted by a sexual predator. Parent communication and a caring attitude could help prevent these tragedies.
I forgot to answer the last question. I think we should use technology whenever we can. As an educator we should always be innovative. Technology could engage a student in our classroom that might otherwise be apethetic to school. We should always try to reach every student and if technology may allow us to reach one more then we should use it.
ReplyDelete