Until now, the only experience that I’d had with technology in school was with an old computer that my uncle had built me so that I could type up term papers for my undergrad coursework. Most students didn’t have personal computers yet and so they went to the ever-crowded computer labs on campus. There was no world wide web at that time and so, until I had a midterm or a final paper due, my computer stayed turned off and collecting dust in the corner of my bedroom.
I met my ex-boyfriend right out of college and I blame errr… credit my current computer literacy on him. He was an avid gamer/computer nerd/digital native and we always had a separate designated work and counter strike computer in our house. I am what some would call a digital immigrant. I have regrettably made the, “did you get my email? - phone call” (Prensky, 2001) on more than one occasion. But due to him, I have learned and acclimated quickly to this digital world.
As an aspiring teacher I want to do everything possible to reach the emerging generation of future citizens. I want the students in my classroom to do everything that the video games promise them, “Explore, take on your friends, master, amass, build, perform, research, lead, don’t work alone!” (Prensky, 2005) I never want my students to feel like they will have to “power down” (Prensky, 2005) to be able to sit through one of my lectures. I loved the idea of using text messaging to gather data for research projects. There are so many more ways to incorporate technology into the classroom than I had even begun to think of and I hope to never let myself become static in this growing digital world.
I like your desire to incorporate more technology. I think we can reach more students through diverse teaching strategies and this is one of them.
ReplyDeleteAny ideas on how to keep students on task when using their phones and computers? I don't have any answers for this and am trying to think through the issue before parents come screaming at me.
Wow Brookes, it is pretty awesome how far you have come in your computer savvy. I love that you have an enthusiasm for meeting students in their realm. I suppose I have a fear of computers replacing real connections, but you seem to view them as a tool for reaching students. I hope to hear more from you on your ideas of engaging students through technology.
ReplyDeleteYour comment about not becoming static in your teaching is so important. We never want to be that way, whether we use technology or not. There are some high school teachers out there who still teach the stuff they taught 20 years ago, in the exact same way! Craziness! We need to adapt to the students as much as we ask them to adapt to us!
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