Sunday, September 15, 2013
Making Connections
As I started to read Kathy Cassidy's book Connected from the Start: Global Learning in Primary Grades, I began to think about my students and all the technology they are growing up with now. In many cases I have found that the students know so much about computers and sometimes more than me. I start to question how much longer we are going to be using "traditional" methods of teaching (teacher up at the front of the classroom, students writing with pencil and paper, for example), when so many students are "connected" online. Having a more digital classroom will not only reach the students on a level they are familiar with, but it will also motivate the students to complete their work more enthusiastically. I am starting to think about setting up a class blog which the students would be able to write comments to each other and the feedback is immediate. We could also get in contact with students from other states to have my class practice writing for an audience other than me. Creating a classroom web page with blogs will also allow parents to check in on what the class is doing, allowing to be a part of the class. Check out Ms. Cassidy's Class for some great ideas on classroom blogs!
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Being a teacher who is technologically handicapped due to my age, I realize that I may be a bit hesitant to embrace the digital age with the same fervor that younger teachers and most students seem to do. I do however feel that we must be careful as to how much technology we as educators are going to have our students partake in. I am probably old-fashioned but I strongly believe that students need more not less, face to face time. Today's students are of the computer age and must know how to navigate technology to be successful in any future endeavors. Yet, more importantly, students must be able to navigate social discourse. They must be well schooled in people skills. One of the unfortunate consequences of being wired and plugged in constantly is the lack of interpersonal skills I see occurring. Another disadvantage I see as an educator is the inability to wait, to slow down, to spend time to be thorough. I see a direct correlation between being constantly stimulated with technology and not being comfortable with down time. We must find a happy balance.
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