After reading the article featured in the University of Pennsylvania's Gazette http://www.upenn.edu/gazette/1107/feature3.html please consider the following questions and post your answers as comments:Are you one of the digital natives described in the article? If you are, which technology tools do you regularly use? Do you think your professors can relate to you and teach you meaningful content? Would it be helpful if your professors developed content for the digital tools that most "natives use regularly? How will you develop meaningful learning experiences for your students?
16 comments:
Thumb is a vestigial organ.Now it has evolved as a dominant finger.Thanks to electronic gadgets. According to Darwin's Natural Selection theory, first the enviornment changed, then organism gradually adopted to their new enviornment and evolved. The young generation today change physically and mentally with new electronic gadgets.
Having been born before the age of digital technology as it exists today, I am a digital immmigrant as opposed to a native. However, that does not mean that I cannot adopt and use technology like the natives do. It is a challenge, however, for someone who has always learned in the most traditional of ways for most of life. I am not tech-savvy at all -using a cell phone and basic computer skills is where I have begun my quest. But as I watch my own children weave their way through various levels of school, I can see the gradual progression to becoming active participants in the GenM and DIG generation. I must say that all of this immediate justification and gratifcation generates concern as I feel some of the older, more traditional methods as decribed in the "push model" are being lost. I do not disagree that students should not utilize the "pull model" of learning at all but there should be a happy medium so the foundations for "inquiry-based education, critical thinking, lifelong learning skills, and collaborative interdisciplinary work are not lost." "Core concepts should not be watered down" and foundations compromised. Students should be engaged in using technology in a multitude of ways learning WITH it and not FROM it. It should be a push-pull experience for both students and teachers alike. The professors I have encountered relate well to my status of being an "immigrant" to the world of technology and encourage me to learn as much as I can. Any content I can be shown to learn about using digital tools will help me immensely both inside and out of the classroom. While I reap the benefit of self-improvement, I can share and use what I know to create lessons that implement technology thus creating more meaningful and useful learning experiences for my students. The more resources at my fingertips (or thumbs!), the more ways I will be able to motivate children to learn and develop critical thinking skills. BUT..I will maintain balance as I still believe that while all the "old ways" don't always work (and could stand some revision), they are critical for a well-rounded education
K. Carter
I don't think I would consider myself to be a digital native, but I feel that I can hold my own in a world that has become so reliant on technology. My sister, who is 8 years younger than me, has been a great help in teaching me how to use such devices as iPods and smartphones, but I try to take the initiative myself in learning how to use different applications. I'm not afraid to experiment in order to build my skills.
I appreciate the fact that my professors try to utilize technology that they believe will help us in the classroom, while also continuing to work with low-tech items like blackboards. I already feel pretty comfortable with PowerPoint and Smartboards, so these tools will certainly be incorporated into my lessons, but I would also consider creating a blog for my students to post questions about assignments, as well as a graphic organizer tool like Inspiration as a means of teaching more complicated concepts in math.
Jeanne S.
I think of myself as a digital native. New tech and gadgets have always been really interesting to me, so I seek them out. I also find it fun to get something new (Like a IPhone) ad just play around with it to try to figure it out. Half of the time I'm missing basic features, but enjoy the ones I was able to understand.
I don't really see it as an important part of my education though. For whatever reason, I would never expect one of my teachers to use all this kind of stuff in the classroom. I guess I still see it as seperate. Any little wondow into this "world" is appreciated, but far from necessary.
Yes I would consider myself a "Digital Native". I work in front of a computer all day and use a Blackberry for communication when not in the office. I laugh when I see people reading the newspaper in the morning because I read all that news the previous night on my computer or Blackberry. I am a sucker for information on the fly as it is happening, so yes I am a "Digital Native". I feel it imperative that teachers bring this technology into the classroom because this is how new students are learning. Teachers need to be able to connect to students in the levels that the students are operating at.
I do see teachers now implementing technology in the classroom and I have also seen the positive results. Students are more attentive and take greater pride in the lessons becuase they can each add in their own knowledge of the technology being used. I find it interesting that the article mentions how the growth of technology is expanding at rates that students will be using technology when they are older that does not even exist yet! In conclusion technology needs to be implemented in the classroom, we as teachers should harrness the power it sways of the students and better prepare them for the future as a whole.
-Matt Fuentes
I do not consider myself to be a digital native but am able to get by in todays technological environmemt. I have recently been exposed to new technology such as smartbord and find it to be very resourceful in the classroom.
Over the course of my graduate studies I have come to learn powerpoint and use it extensively in lesson plans that
I have presented. These tools are commonly used in many of the other lessons I have seen my peers present.
I plan to use powerpoint, smartboards and other forms of technology in my classroom. I will take what I learn from my professors into the classrroom as along as i can realte it to the content my students are learning.
I would not consider myself a digital native, but I do try to keep up with the times by learning about new technology. Many of my graduate courses have helped me become proficient in doing research on the internet and graphic organizers. I'm also learning a lot about using powerpoints and smartboards which I believe will help me in the classroom. I also have children of my own so I need to keep up on social networking and ipods and such.
I agree with Jeanne about having a blog to communicate with students about assignments. It's an effective and efficient tool to let students know that you are up-to-date with some of the new technologies they are interested in.
Christine G.
I enjoyed this article because the professor who wrote it has lots of insight into student's learning styles and preferences. For example, after mentioning that the Millenium Generation is more likely to use their thumbs to ring a doorbell, and that they are DIG--Digital Instant Gratification -- based, he explains what he is doing in his sphere of educating to effect change and adapt to the technologically-based student. His approach to teaching is exemplary, as he uses the scavenger hunt, seemingly chock full of mentally challenging clues to stimulate inquiry-based education, fostering critical thinking, lifelong learning skills, and collaborative interdisciplinary learning.While I consider myself a digital immigrant to some degree with respect to some internet-based technology as well as complusive text messaging, I have been learning and will continue to learn more, to stay,at least, alongside this "thumbs" generation. To agrre with the author of the artice,I consider it a challenge and a responsibility. Besides, the US needs to improve in this area, according to the author's comments.
Sue D.
In another class that I am taking this summer, a classmate mentioned that at least one school district here on Long Island is using technology to also help keep parents up-to-date about what is happening in their children's classes. Apparently, the teachers use cell phones and computers for attendance, posting grades and notifying them of important school events. It seems that maybe parents need that "instant gratification" as much as the students do these days! When I worked in Catholic school, I attempted to work with the students' needs for instant gratification by using the internet during lessons if a question came up that I could not answer. I would open up Google, enter some key words, and then view a few of the search hits with the students. Not only were their questions addressed quickly, but they also had the opportunity to evaluate how useful a particular site was by the information we were able to collect. They saw that they may not find the answer right away, but at least the internet can benefit them at times when the information must be gathered quickly.
Jeanne S.
I'm not sure I would consider myself necessarily a "digital native," but I do find that I rely fairly heavily on technology such as my PC and my cell phone. This article showed a great approach to meeting the needs of the digital native. I think that in order to meet their needs and ensure that meaningful learning is taking place, technology must be used in a creative manner. While I find lectures somewhat boring, they also happen to be the way I learn best. For me to sit in a lecture and take down notes, I would have a far easier time getting a good grade on a test than in a class where there is always some sort of action or technology going on. I went to a high school that didn't have a lot of technology, and although most of the time I would be sitting in class doodling, I was still able to absorb the material. Today's students are clearly multi-taskers. Digital natives can listen to music, send text messages, carry on actual conversations, and read something on the computer all at once. Of course it's no wonder that many of them find it difficult to learn in the environment that I was accustomed to learning in - there is simply not enough happening for them. I think that it's important to take an active approach to learning, so that it doesn't become to reliant on traditional methods, or too reliant on technology. The article mentioned a heavier push towards group work, which I think can both be a burden and a curse. Group work is something that must be monitored closely, and I feel that if a group rubric is given for each student to fill out about their group members, it is more likely that students will put their best effort into the project. In order to create meaningful learning experiences, it is so important to know your students, be aware of what they are capable of, and work around their needs. If a class seems more technologically inclined, then the use of projects and assignments that have a component of technology would better suit them, rather than having them constantly do pen and paper assignments. However, pen and paper assignments are also very important. Since I learned using a combination of both the "push" and "pull" models, I think it is very important to utilize both in the classroom, and allow students to gain knowledge from both paths.
Nicole B.
Jeanne - I think that your use of Google for fast answers is a great idea. It shows students both negatives and positives about using the internet.
And the piece about attendance on the internet, and parents also needing instant gratification - SO true. I observed in a school where they had a school based intranet in which attendance records were kept. I thought it was such an interesting idea, and definitely beneficial to teachers who quickly need to find out whether or not a student is in the building. The parents of today, too, are very interested in instant gratification. I work at a summer camp in Queens, and the number of 9-11 year olds with cell phones is unbelievable. Parents feel they need to be in constant contact with their child. I always ask the kids that I work with what they need their phones for - and about 90% of them don't even walk home. They either get picked up or take a bus. It is absolutely daunting to think that parents feel they need to check on their children to that extent. Granted, in today's world, you can never be too careful - but a 10 year old with a Blackberry?
Nicole B.
I loved this article! I would say I fall in the unusual place of being in between GEN M and the older generations. I do well enough with technology but I am not as savvy as some of my students. I loved this article and the idea of changing education from the "push" of information to the students' "pulling" information from various tech sources. It is interesting to see how it is being implemented on the college level. Something like this might a little more difficult to implement on the younger grade levels. The lack of supervision is another negative. College students were focused and engaged. Younger students may not necessarily be as engaged and may wander off task. I agree with Nicole and Jeanne that having students use Google to research answers maybe a very practical, familiar research method for students to learn how to use with an academic purpose.
Megan R.
I completely agree with Megan R. when she said that I fall in between Gen M and the older generations. I am fully capable and aware of how to use technology in the classroom. I think I been taught a great deal of technology throughout my education. Sometimes, I feel a little behind, but for the most part, I am teaching a lot of my coworkers at school how to use technology. I don't know how teachers would deal with not being able to take attendance on the computer, or not having email. We need technology these days. People always say, what would I do without a cell phone. These children's minds are definitly more geared for the digital world. The thumb part of the article was a little humerous, but it was true. As teachers, we need to teach our students the best we can so that they can reach their full potential. This means that we need to change the way we teach in order to accomplish this goal.
Jennifer D'Albenzio
Nicole--
I think the advantage to using rubrics for group work, or any assignment for that matter, is the fact that it sets the standard for what we expect. When students do the simple pen and paper work, it's fairly clear that we want the questions answered and their ideas explained in detail. When you have more interaction going on, the students need to realize that during the time they are given to work on their projects, they MUST BE WORKING. There have been many times when I have seen teachers give out the worksheet, put the kids into groups, and leave it at that. I don't think the students really get anything out of an assignment like that, because they basically just socialize as they're doing the work. They aren't compelled to consider how well they are cooperating with their classmates, how effectively they're resolving conflicts, or anything else that would lend meaning to a group endeavor.
Jeanne S.
Yes, I would consider myself to be a digital native. I use my computer everyday. Snail mail is antiquated. I use my blackberry for everything. I can download devices, take pictures, video, receive email, instant message, use the calculator; it's endless!
As the author stated, "Kids don’t want to just listen to us talk about what mathematics is useful and what programming techniques are useful, they want to actually see if it’s true, or see how it’s true.
I agree, chalk board lessons only no longer work. We need to incorporate more technology to keep the students engaged.
Kimberla P.
I am pretty good at using technology, but I do not feel as though I am a digital native. I still have more to learn and do not use it for every aspect of my life. Using it, however, has made it easier to find information and in my lesson plans as well. I agree with Kimberla that technology is a must to keep students engaged. It is hard for us who were in the education system prior to the digital age because we were not exposed to the types of technologies that can be used in the classroom. This is why classes like 521 are important.
What I found most interesting about this article were the ideas of the "push model" and the "pull model." When we were in school, teachers would push information on us. Now, kids are so used to looking up information on the internet in search engines like Google, they are used to pulling information. This is the way we should be teaching.
As we discussed one day in class, I feel The internet has made us a bit lazy as we expect information to come to us immediately with minimal or no effort. What would happen if the internet shut down for a day? Would anyone seek information the good old fashioned way?
-Lauren D
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