With students spending more than 7 hours a day online and in various forms of social media, it is easy to recognize how the learning of our present and future generations is rapidly changing. Our students are now, as Marc Prensky appropriately coined them, "digital natives." It is natural for students to interact and collaborate in a virtual platform. So, why are we struggling to align the way in which we teach to meet the inherent processes of how our students learn?
In a recent New York Times article from Nick Wingfield, the drive for a more technology fueled classroom is examined. Apple is making strong headway in the education system. Many classrooms are currently operating with sets of laptops, iPods, and iPads, replacing the outdated textbooks. Teachers are encouraged to participate in professional development workshops to learn to use these new technologies and how to incorporate them into their curriculum.
It is not just apparent how engaged and inspired these teachers are to use these technologies, it is equally obvious how interested students will be. But what are the struggles the every day classroom will face in transferring to the digital age?
There are many challenges we could conjure up that could prevent our classrooms from developing into this new age, but what is next?
If this is what we are facing now, where do we go from here?
How can Web 3.0 be incorporated into our classroom to support the evolution of textbooks?
Will new technology inevitably replace our idea of textbooks? Of the classroom?
What would best support and enhance your students' learning?
In a recent New York Times article from Nick Wingfield, the drive for a more technology fueled classroom is examined. Apple is making strong headway in the education system. Many classrooms are currently operating with sets of laptops, iPods, and iPads, replacing the outdated textbooks. Teachers are encouraged to participate in professional development workshops to learn to use these new technologies and how to incorporate them into their curriculum.
It is not just apparent how engaged and inspired these teachers are to use these technologies, it is equally obvious how interested students will be. But what are the struggles the every day classroom will face in transferring to the digital age?
- What platform will they choose?
- How will they incorporate it to effectively support their curriculum?
- What are the barriers? Internet connection? Power? Technology glitches?
- How long will it last? Will it soon be outdated and not relevant?
- Is it cost effective?
There are many challenges we could conjure up that could prevent our classrooms from developing into this new age, but what is next?
If this is what we are facing now, where do we go from here?
How can Web 3.0 be incorporated into our classroom to support the evolution of textbooks?
Will new technology inevitably replace our idea of textbooks? Of the classroom?
What would best support and enhance your students' learning?
Interesting questions.
ReplyDeleteYour presentation in class got me thinking about text books as leaders of change and improvement, not followers. That's fascinating. Could they be viral in their influence? Could they change the way we deliver content, practice, examples, assessments? Could they help instructors think about things differently?
Maybe. Perhaps.
You launch the blog talking about digital natives. I wonder about them. Interesting Open Univ (UK) study sheds much doubt on their existence. http://www.agent4change.net/resources/research/1088
Here's an infographic about digital textbooks I found today on twitter from @edReformer: http://gettingsmart.com/news/2011/11/infographic-textbooks-of-tomorrow/
ReplyDeleteDigital Textbooks about to take over the classroom, but is it really the best option? Are we really being revolutionary?
Textbooks may be the leaders and the spark to innovation, but I question their necessity at all.