"This generation of students is more likely to be armed with cell phones, laptops, and iPods than with spiral notebooks and No. 2 pencils"
Having students that are more in touch with electronics than traditional methods of school resources is the major reason for bordem in the classrooms. Teachers have to think smarter than their students to keep them from ignoring their lessons. It is important for teachers that have been around awhile to keep up to date with technology so that students are learning in their classrooms.
"This is a mix-and-match generation," Blake says. "I'm looking at these things as a way to hook into what they're doing outside the classroom. When they see that I know how to use the technology, they think, 'This is going to be cool.'"
I think it is important for us as teachers to remember that doing cool things doesn't mean it's not relevant. Sometimes we think that if we stray from what's in the book that's going to be on the test we aren't teaching them anything but that's not true. Keeping up to date with the resources around up will keep the students interested and keep them engaged in learning.
"They like everything being electronic -- it's speaking their language."
Speaking the same language as our students is an important concept to remember. They don't know how things used to be they just know how things are now. This is why we have to do things differently than we are used to.
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The article seems to be speaking to the notion of relevance. If we aren't teaching the curriculum in a way that is relevant to the students' lives, we're going to loose many if not most of them in the process. There is no reason to deny the fact that everything is moving into the "virtual" online world. This being the case, we should equip students to be creative and thrive in that world.
ReplyDeleteI agree that educators need to stay up-to-date with technology and how it can implemented in the classroom. While it's important that we don't just use technology to simply use it, I truely believe technology can be very rewarding!! I agree that technology can be a tool in order to keep students engaged. When I think of myself and what motivates my learning, usually technology is involved!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Julie, in order to keep students engaged we need to be teaching lessons that keep their attention. In todays world students are used to instant gratification, cool graphics and other tech savy perks. We have to be able to keep their attention like video games keep their attention.
ReplyDeleteFinding meaningful ways to integrate technology will be the key to its success.