"Blogs have the power to tear down the classroom walls and extend a student’s work on to the World Wide Web (Richardson, 2006). Students feel a better sense of ownership of their work when people outside school are reading what they have to say."
I totally subscribe to the notion that students will write… will do the work when there is a purpose and an audience. By creating a blog or a way for student work to be seen, heard and responded to, I believe I will be able to reach some of my toughest audiences. My LD 10th grade class of boys excel at their plumbing and automotive classes. They can read and interpret manuals, fix complicated instruments and do all manner of things that I wouldn’t even dream of attempting--but when it comes to English class.. no way! They are tech savvy and they text like mad. They talk to each other in the halls, telling animated stories but if I were to ask them to relate their thoughts through writing… it isn’t going to happen.
I haven’t done it yet, but I wonder if a blog or even just some voice to text software would open up their interest in what we do in class. I mean, I can let them read some literature they choose but it is also my job to expand what they are exposed to so… if I do something new that, on the outset doesn’t seem very interesting, maybe by using technology, (blogs, podcasts, etc) I can open up their brains a smidgen to let some other stuff in there and I can do something that will honestly prepare them for the world they will encounter post-high school.
I think this is the kind of thing I struggle with the most. Subjects like English have such vague state standards… I mean, you can interpret nearly any language arts lesson to fit into many of the standards. I struggle with this… with figuring out what is truly beneficial, both with my LD kids and my honors classes. I think that adapting the lessons to NETS standards is a step in the right direction.
So, I guess my answer to the question "Is it the technology that drives the project or the project that drives the technology?"... the answer is BOTH...
We need the technology as an entity all by itself. Quite honestly, it is redefining even the most basic curriculum. There isn't an area in any subject that isn't touched by technology in some way so, not to integrate it is holding back student learning. We also need to integrate technology and subject meaningfully. Technology for technology's sake actually is ok sometimes but, at some point, if we want to preserve our culture, we have to pair the technology with the subject. That is how the powerful experience is created.
So, I guess my answer to the question "Is it the technology that drives the project or the project that drives the technology?"... the answer is BOTH...
We need the technology as an entity all by itself. Quite honestly, it is redefining even the most basic curriculum. There isn't an area in any subject that isn't touched by technology in some way so, not to integrate it is holding back student learning. We also need to integrate technology and subject meaningfully. Technology for technology's sake actually is ok sometimes but, at some point, if we want to preserve our culture, we have to pair the technology with the subject. That is how the powerful experience is created.
I agree that students will pour their little hearts into something they think will add value to their lives or empower them.
ReplyDeleteLeveraging technology is a great way to bring this to our students. Especially when combined with project based learning.
I think the old covenant of education leads to a stable and comfortable future is broken. Students no longer see the value of making the grade they need to see the applicability and the value.