Week 4 Digital Media- New Learners of the 21st
Century
Two things struck me about the video.
First was what we were all supposed to notice – kids involved in learning with
technology. There were obvious innovative ideas and exciting things going on.
Kids were using technology to engage in new ways with art and documents and
each other. They were using games to take problems and find solutions, think
creatively, and look at things in a different way.
The second reaction that struck me was the passion with
which the professionals interviewed have embraced digital media, and the degree
to which each sees the potential for learning. This was across
the age span and across subject areas. Granted, all of these professionals were
in situations in which they have been part of change, but each was able to give
rich profound reasons for interest in digital media and learning. In my work I have heard a great deal only
about Internet safety and causes for concern with kids and social media. Now I’m hearing other professionals
talk about what digital media has to offer kids, the advantages of using it in
education. And they are doing so with passion and excitement and presenting
fascinating ideas. In my
experience, I’ve come to a new understanding in interacting with the digital
world.
Some specific thoughts resonated with me. First the concept
expressed by one educator about the love of embracing change was key. As professionals, we have to think
about education and interact with teaching and learning differently. Second, I
enjoyed hearing about what you learn from designing a game, because I was
asking myself that question. What are the “take-aways” of this? Third, I’ve
heard this before but loved it in this context: kids need a passion, whatever
passion, to get them to become learners.
Our kids are facing a world that will be constantly changing. What do
they learn that will help them adjust to that reality?
"Kids need a passion, whatever passion, to get them to become learners." I appreciate that you pulled this fact out to highlight. When I heard this statement in the video, I thought to my self, well that is not new information. This idea was the basis of a summer school program I did quite awhile ago during my student teaching. The program was all about letting learners focus on their passion, but then encourage them to branch out across all content areas to help them acquire skills.
ReplyDeleteOne lesson, I do now with studnets is a timeline of great moments in communication. Having the visual timeline shows us just how many communication tools have been developed in the last decade, compared to the progress between the printing press and the telegraph. Also we discuss, that they have so much more info to sort through, than what was available to previous generations. So developing critical thinking skills and being a good information consumer is essential.
The statement of "kids need a passion, whatever passion, to get them to become learners" is so important. It makes me think about my own daughter, who is 8 years old and is in love with taking pictures. She was taking pictures two years ago and I entered one into the Rochester Fair. She won second place in her category. This gave her such a drive that from that point on she would go on the ipod or ipad or computer and start looking for pictures of animals, plants, anything she can think of. This then gave her ideas and the next time she would take different kinds of shots for her pictures. She then was obsessed with taking pictures everywhere we went. Since then she has taken some amazing photographs that are even better than some adults I have seen. But this is her passion so she takes the time to learn more about it. I wish that ever kids had a passion like this.
ReplyDelete"In my work I have heard a great deal only about Internet safety and causes for concern with kids and social media. Now I’m hearing other professionals talk about what digital media has to offer kids, the advantages of using it in education. And they are doing so with passion and excitement and presenting fascinating ideas. In my experience, I’ve come to a new understanding in interacting with the digital world." This is so promising and I am happy you wrote about it. So much time and energy is focused upon the "stranger danger" way of thinking and not so much has been talked about the positive uses for technology in many schools. It is a passionate teacher or administrator that can turn things around!
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