Sunday, October 25, 2009
NEW educational blog
Well, I have found a new educational blog to follow. :) It is written by David Warlick and is called '2 cents worth.' In his most recent post, he describes his response to a reporter's question about his opinion on schools who are banning Ipods in the classroom. His response reminded me of what we have been discussing in class, because he basically says that as teachers, we shouldn't shun technologies, but rather figure out how to use them in an educational way. In my opinion, if school districts don't incorporate the use of different technologies, the chidlren will lose interest in school and either stop coming, in the older grades, or will be ill equipped for the work/college worlds. I am a HUGE supporter of books, but I also recognize that there are now other means in which we can obtain or present information and those can be just as effective for children to use as the traditional means.
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I think you have made a valid point. If we ban the technologies the students are using then in a sense we are shutting off what is important to them and creating a reason for them to rebel and drop out of school or lose interest. However, if we incorporate and embrace the technologies that they are currently into, then we show interest in them as a person and keep their interest in the classroom and show that we are on their side--making school more attractive and giving them a reason to participate.
ReplyDeleteI have known of David Warlick's work. I should have him on my list of potential blogs to follow.
ReplyDeleteGreat find!
I think often teachers are afraid of the new technologies. And they can be distracting, particularly if the current lesson isn't particularly exciting.
This whole idea reminds me of the video we watched in the beginning weeks of the semester, about the elephants and the transition from oral tradition to books. The difference between that transition and ours, is the fact that there is SO much more to learn; back then, they would simply need to read in write; in our world, we have to teach not only the former to, but now how to use/interact with technologies and it is definately an intimidating thought.
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