Monday, July 21, 2014

Reaction to Mitra's presentation


The shift that he suggests in this video is similar to the other videos we watched today and that is shifting the locus of control in the classroom from the teacher to the student.  This shift is facilitated through the use of technology in the classroom.   Students, are curious and inquisitive, and technology can provide the opportunity for that natural curiosity to have free reign.  Whereas in the past, the teacher was an arbiter of that knowledge, he/she organized, sifted and presented that information and was the locus of control.  The teacher’s role can and should shift from a gatekeeper of knowledge to more of a mentor and coach with the student controlling pacing, direction, interest etc.   

I have several teachers that have been shifting to more of an open, inquiry based classroom these last two years,  I have witnessed several of their challenges and triumphs in integrating technology in their classrooms in a similar way as Mitra suggests.  After watching his presentation one might come away with the idea that if we simply expose students to technology and get out of the way all our problems will be solved.  My experience is that for a decentralized classroom to work there needs to be a tremendous amount of front loading, teaching and training that must be done before students can be given free reign. There needs to be routines, structures and behavior management systems established around technology, just like in every other aspect of the classroom   And my teachers and I were surprised at how much time needed to be spent in the classroom developing systems and standards around appropriate use of technology.  When is technology a tool and when is it a crutch?  When should it be used to solve a problem and when should be off and away?    What my teachers and I found was that when given technology our students wanted to solve every problem and every task with  technology and this was often not always the most efficient or effective means.  Twain's famous quote is that "To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail," and when it came to our students, everything looked like a solution that an app could solve.  Without systems in place students were spending all their time searching for an app instead of working on the problem.  Likewise, time needs to be spent in teaching students what meaningful collaboration looks and sounds like.  Also of importance, and often very difficult for some of our younger students, was evaluation of sources on the internet.  

It is true that technology is an essential component necessary for students to be truly prepared for college and a career; however, of equal importance is teaching students the skills that go along with appropriate use of technology.  

  

2 comments:

  1. You point to the tension that often exists in these debates. Not only is it a huge investment of time to make it work with kids, it's even harder and more time with adults. Thanks for the Twain quote...and great to have you a part of this week!

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  2. I like your question, "When is it a tool and when is it a crutch?" How do we teach that? Trial and error? I think it's great that some of your staff is trying a more inquiry based approach. The collaboration piece is key and hard to teach, especially when teachers, themselves, often struggle with collaboration in their own professional lives.

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