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11 comments:
Cross-disciplinary courses are common in the New Technology model. I am hoping that by having more teachers trained and using technology, we can work together on more assignments and make better connections between content areas. SJH
"Five years ago, the government gave computers to students at two schools in high-crime neighborhoods in Birmingham. ... Even students who are suspended from school for a few days beg not to lose their access to the portal, ... . Today, the schools are among the top in the nation in yearly improvements in students’ performance in reading and math tests."
Technology and the use of technology in schools can have a very positive impact on ALL students. We've all gone through seminars, workshops, etc. over the last few years on differentiation and ensuring success for all learners, yet many are still left out (or to use a controversial term, left behind). Technology and appropriate use of technology both in and out of the classroom can be the neutralizer for failure, or catalyst for success for all students. This quote jumped out for me because of its lasting implications for all students, not just the chosen ones.
“There’s a lot of ownership by the kids in their work instead of teachers lecturing and being the givers of all knowledge,”
This is what we are hoping occurs in the classroom. It won't necessarily happen on its own in all cases. It needs our encouragement and guidance.
Bill
The author noted that web-based education is accessible to suspended students; they do not fall behind on suspension. This would certainly be attractive at SPHS, where numerous students are suspended for lengthy repetitions. An expelled student this year had hoped (at least his parents hoped) to stay current so that he could return before the year's end and resume classes. Web-based curriculum would have helped him.
Of course web-based curriculum also calls into question why we even have the bricks and mortar at all? If every kid has a lap-top (soon, presumably) and the city went wi-fi (possible), then can we just close the school buildings?
"Cross-disciplinary courses are common in the New Technology model."
I am hoping with more teachers working to include technology we can work together to integrate more content areas so that kids are making stronger connections.
I am surprised to read that project-based assignments produce better results on standardized tests. I wonder how that study was conducted and what standardized tests were used. Thinking that practice improves, the claim is counter-intuitive.
The educational bottom line, it seems, is that while computer technology has matured and become more affordable, the most significant development has been a deeper understanding of how to use the technology. I picked this line because I think that when technology first began to be used in schools few people really had a good idea on how to apply it and integrate it throughout the curriculum. I think that over the last five years tremendous advances have been made in this area and teachers really have a responsibility to become familiar with these advances. Laurence
"Unless you change how you teach and how kids work, new technology is not really going to make a difference,”
We have to think differently how we help students evolve or arrive at what we want them to learn.
Julie
I agree with utilizing projects as a major aspect of teaching and learning in the "modern" classroom. I have always utilized large-scale, deeply involved, research based projects in my classroom. However, I still believe in maintaining some balance and that tradition lecture, and particularly discussion based lessons are important to the development of student thinking as well. I feel education tends to swing like a pendulum to each extreme swinging wildy back and forth and rarely staying in the most useful middle ground. I believe technology and projects extremely important, yet lets not abandoned everything for the sake of "trying" to get ahead of the curve... it will never happen.
That said I have a graduate degree in multidisciplinary studies... I do not think this necessarily benefits our students more than more "segmented" disciplines. I think the occasional interdisciplinary approach is a great methodology to use. I do not believe this need be or become a wholistic approach. And if this blog seems paradoxical... it's because I am a Libra my sistahs and bruthas...CAN YOUUUUU DIGGGG IT!
I agree that solely adding technology (computers) in the classroom will not advance student capabilities without an effort to instruct the student on how to use the technology to achieve desired results
"In the classroom, the emphasis can shift to project-based learning, a real break with the textbook-and-lecture model of education." I see this as technology in the classroom in a nut shell. Kids expect that they can access information in an instant and we need to change the teacher centered classroom in response. The real push in schools needs to be professional development that retrains teachers to teach in this new way. Many of us would love to integrate technology in a meaningful project based way, but do not know where to start or simply want to have the work be real, relevant and meaningful. Preparing kids for the jobs of the future means what it always has, teaching them to think critically, problem solve, persevere and to be self motivated learners. We do however, need to be able to do that in a world of technology. That means learning new ways to engage students' passion for learning through technology. ABP
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