Engaging students in learning

The article titled Engage me or Enrage me raised some important points about the use of technology in schools and how we must engage the range of students in the classroom.As expected, life and technolgoical resources available have changed over the last four centuries. The author identifies that, in the past, students have not had or needed the immense amount of technology to maintain their attention that is available and needed for today’s students. Personally, growing up in a time where computers were rarely used in the school, I definitely notice these changes. It is also evident that, unlike the past, technology must now be seen as an integral part of education.

As Emma suggested, attitudes about teaching technology must change if our aim is to engage students. I believe that this can be achieved if the teacher is creative in the ways that they integrate technology across the curriculum subjects and if they embrace the notion that ‘playing’ can equal ‘learning’.                                  

Reference:

 Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: what today’s learners demand. Educause Review. 40, 5, 60-65. 

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www.flickr.com/photos/30008272@N00/104263974 

“Listen to the Natives”……if the budget allows.

I quite like the term “Digital Natives” used to describe the current young generation in Listen to the Natives. I feel that it sums up exactly what life these-days is like for young children who have grown up with technology all around them. For these children, using technology is just second nature. I also like the Constructivist approach to learning that he recommends.

 As Emma has suggested, I would also challenge the possibilities of technology that the author believes are endless. Like Emma, I feel that he is somewhat out of touch with the average school. Not all schools have unlimited technological resources. 

I believe that in order to incorporate technology into schools, as the author suggested, the teacher must be supported by the school through first, supplying enough equipment and second, providing comprehensive training for the teachers. It would be virtually impossible for a lone teacher to implement this type of teaching and learning into their classroom without this support. If this is not the school and communities focus, after reading this article, a teacher may feel that they are inferior.

Reference: 

Prensky, M. (2005/2006) Listen to the Natives. Educational Leadership. 63(4), 8-13
http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html

Photo from:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97831130@N00/1066368855