Well, we are one week down and still no major papers to grade so I decided to do a little MILI homework. It seemed especially important since I have not done anything since our last class.
I of course need to take a little break in a minute to watch the Murray/Nadal tennis match. It anyone cares, I'm cheering for Nadal.
But, I found it very interesting that students of all ages seemed to be overwhelmed with the amount of information available to them. I know that all the new technology has been very overwhelming for me.
With a new gradebook, website, sub system and web 2.0 tools, I feel like I'm trying to just get my head around everything. However, I do feel like I'm going to like my new tools when I really figure them out.
What is interesting to me is that I take for granted that my students have grown up in the information age. I tend to just assume that they can use technology. While many of them are more saavy then me, many still don't have access to or use a lot of technology. And those students that do often just want to find the quickest solution rather than digging. When I was growing up and researching is books (GASP), I had limitations about what I could use so I need to remember as a teacher that students still need guidlines and direction even though the information is at their fingertips. In fact, with the huge amount of information, I think those guidelines become even more important.
As far as my classroom, I have made it a goal to use more technology this year but I don't want to force it. I want to use technology so it enriches student learning. I don't want to just use it just so I can say i did. I also have to echo Nancy's statements, because it can be frustrating to use technology because there seem to be so many hurdles. In addition to data privacy, there is also a concern that students will create weird names and post innapropriate messages. As a teacher, it seems to be a battle I don't want to fight if I can avoid it.
However, I am excited to find tools I can easily use without those battles!!
About Me
- Nelson's teachings
- Brienne Nelson has been an English teacher in the Eastern Carver County School District for 11 years. She is excited for her fourth year at Chanhassen High School, teaching AP Lit and Comp, English 10 and advising the Yearbook and Newspaper, both student publications.
2 comments:
No matter what resources kids are using, the hard part is getting them to really *think* about the information. It's so hard to get them past the quick-find, quick-write, hand it in and don't think about it anymore phase. That's why I love the UbD stuff - it makes me really dig into my purpose & how to get kids to learn what I really want them to learn from a unit.
Great reflection . . . Your point: "I need to remember as a teacher that students still need guidelines and direction even though the information is at their fingertips. In fact, with the huge amount of information, I think those guidelines become even more important." I think that is exactly what a lot of people outside of schools and libraries don't understand . . .
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