From: Wikipedia- Should we allow the use of this web site?
I also do not let students use wikipedia, if it can be found there great but verify it with a more credible source from the library. Though I don't… ...
From: Wikipedia- Should we allow the use of this web site?
I am one of those instructors who does not allow wikipedia as a source in my classroom. However I also do not allow dictionaries, encyclopedia or… ...
From: Developing OnLine Classes
Thanks Carla. AT AIU we constantly work towards offering new programs for our students. My Bachelor's degree was in Pyschology from a traditional… ...
Are we providing appropriate teacher training programs to meet the needs of the children of the digital age?
For many generations educators (including me and most of the teachers I have known over the 40 years I have been an educator) have worked to help students learn by being taught. It seems to me that this generation of young people are not interested in being taught. They want to immerse themselves in learning and develop their own understanding. The job market they will be facing in the future is looking for people who can think outside the box and can work collaboratively. The traditional classroom, where the teacher is the “sage on the stage”, is no longer appropriate for educating this type of thinker.
Unfortunately, most instructors were trained to be that sage. A few are learning to move to the side and act as a coach or facilitator. The teacher training programs at most universities have not changed in the last few decades. How can we expect to prepare teachers for what this new generation of learners need if we do not revise the teacher education programs at the undergraduate and graduate school levels?
As a full time instructor at a very forward thinking online university I thought we were doing a fairly good job of moving with the times. We have a virtual campus, discussion boards, chats, online cybrary, podcasts of chats, archives of chats, white boards that display anything the instructor has on their own computer desktop and much more. But I was recently introduced to blogs, wikis, and second life. The potential for education is limitless, how did I miss out on all these developments?
When did I fall so far behind the times? How did it happen? I have a doctorate in instructional technology, so how could I not know about these resources for education? If our university, which is trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology is so far behind, where can the more traditional schools be?
Many universities have acknowledged this problem but have no idea where to start in their revisions. So I ask…
If you could plan a pre-service program for educators, what would it look like? What kinds of classes need to be taught? What kinds of experiences do these educators need in order to fully immerse themselves into the digital age of our future students? With technology constantly changing, how do we stay in front of the trends, so that what we are teaching doesn’t become outdated before it can be put into use? These are tough questions that I am struggling with and I would value your input.
I think teachers must keep up with the new trends in technology and education. I think it is up to the school to push the instructors to be more pro-active with their own learning and growth.
We did this project last year and it was really fun and successful. Many of the students chose to continue communication afterwards via email (which they had put on their Postcards).
Our English Program was looking for classes around the world that were interested in a one time postcard swap with classes in Thailand. They would send us a postcard and receive one from us. We had four Grade Five (10 and 11 years old) classes, each with 25 students. The Postcard Exchange is part of one of their English Units.
The students learned in an in Immersion English Program(English, Maths, Science, PE, Health, Computers in English – other subjects in Thai) so their level of English is excellent.
Your class writes a set of postcards to the other school telling them about your country and school, then they would reply to your cards.
I thought I would share.
Best Wishes,
Melanie
We have a paperless high school in my school district. All of the students have laptops. They access all of their textbooks online and their assignments online. Whatever is needed for a paperless school, this school has. Of course we had help funding it - Bill Gates. Now, it’s up to us to maintain the equipment and related resources.
I guess if money is being saved on textbooks, paper and the usual school supplies, then, the school will have money in its budget to upgrade and to replace lost or broken laptops.
Will this “paperless” school idea filter to other schools in the district? I can’t say; but, it would be a costly venture. Then again, if we go paperless, then perhaps parents can buy the laptop for their child/ren since they will not have to buy school supplies, as such. Yes, I am aware of the expense; however, we do have resources for parents to get computers at a reduced cost. Maybe they can rent them. I don’t know; but, I think that it can be done with some creative financial assistance where needed.
True - I might be a tad optimistic; but, the reality is that we are in a technology age and technology is growing leaps and bounds. Are the schools going to stay in the stone age of technology? I doubt it!
DrLiska |Jan. 1, 2008 @ 9:10 PM
I find myself in the same dilemna that you mentioned. Just when I think I am ahead of the curve in terms of being cutting edge, I find out there is something new that I hadn’t even heard of. I’m trying to get blogging and podcasting up and running at my school, but sometimes it’s an uphill battle when the administration doesn’t even know what a blog is! Keep blazing the trail at your university. It only makes things easier for those of us in more traditional settings!