He so gets it!
May 16, 2008
My final response started like this:(T said)….considering what is blasting into their ears from their ipods, and what they see on television, and the content of some of the most popular video games, i’d recommend putting them in quiet rooms to read and discuss good books!
Perhaps instead of opening the door to all their toys and tools with no restriction, we develop policies that embrace them and teach students about using them responsibly, sensibly, and with limits. Why not teach them to be analytical about the tools they are so mesmerized by, and help them make well thought out, educated, wise choices about the said tools? Gosh, this just may sound a bit like, um, media literacy?
(T said)…teenagers have been bored in school since there have been teenagers in school, and while i support most of prensky’s principles and his recommended practices, i become wary, dubious and skeptical when consultants, educational game designers, and microsoft vp’s suggest that we aren’t doing enough to make education fun and entertaining…
I do believe Prensky said as much, that boredom has been long withstanding in many classrooms throughout the 20th and now 21st century. No surprise. But some are missing the point here. This is not about grabbing their attention with their preferred tools as much as it is about “engaging” students. Very few students who are engaged become bored, cause discipline problems, and best of all, they WANT to learn. Kids are bored because school is focusing on concepts covered on the test, and making it more of a priority than making sure their kids are engaged.
(Heather Loy said) They aren’t used to the “sit and get” methods and/or WON’T get them simply because they will tune us out as we are boring.
Bingo! I myself as a veteran “student” having many years of experience in the classroom learning can vouch for the fact that it is so difficult to have a “sit and get” style class today. And in this day and age of 90 minute blocks, OMG, I pity our students who must endure 90 minutes of this. I’ve been through k-12, college, and 2 post college degrees, and I can promise you the ONLY ones that bring back memories I care to remember are the ones where I did not “sit and get” the whole time. As an adult who LOVES attending conferences, I find that I cannot even stand to sit in one hour sessions that are the sit and get variety. For that reason, I have begun carrying my laptop everywhere, and pray I’ll have wireless, so I can self-stimulate if it gets too boring. I’ve developed the attitude—Engage me or enrage me. There is no in between.
(L said)…LOL “T”…I’ll give you the Microsoft research point…kinda like Renaissance Learning research finding conclusive evidence that AR works.
I think all corporations can find research to support their theories and/or products. It is why we have all bought into such programs as Renaissance Learning, CCC, SuccessMaker, Read 180, and so many more sure fire cure-alls to what ills education.
(P said)…I am currently serving on an EOC Tech Think Committee and I guess the individuals on that group must be as uninformed as well since we all concur on the use of technology in the classroom to engage students.
So glad to hear a state department of education contact saying this!! Also pleased as punch there is representation that understands our roles in the library.
Thank you ALL for this healthy debate. Some may feel it is not part of the library media program, but I beg to differ. We are poised to be a catalyst for true technology integration and modeling engagement in our libraries. We should be doing just that. No educators, especially those in the library, are off the hook. Engage them or enrage them.
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