Why does the networked student even need a teacher? They really don't need a teacher and in most cases the student knows more than the teacher. These students shares and creates blogs, responds to podcasts from other students and create blogs about what they learn. This is "connected learning." connected learners share info via computers for other students to learn. The networked student is fascinated with computers, knows how to use them and only need the teacher for certain skills. Networked students need teachers to learn how to use the information they find. How to use or differentiate between good and bad info. How to build networks and how to manage info. All these skills will be needed in 21st Century Learning. So, yes the networked student will need a teacher. The question is will you be prepared to be a teacher of a networked student?
A 7th Graders Personal Learning Environment or PLN
A 7th graders PLN is a exciting experience for a young student to experience. It is much more than learning has been in the past. These students have much more freedom of how and when to do their work. In the past students were told simply to do their work NOW!! There was no freedom to be creative at all.
In this PLN the student You don't need a pencil or paper. They find information on the online and put it on their personal page. Students know how to use a goggle account to post info or even create a blog.
In this PLN students must learn to be responsible as they can get sidetracked with the enormous amount of info available. These are areas where the teacher will be needed to monitor students as there are sites that are hazardous to a students mind.
Two Critiques of Smart Boards
Why Smart Boards Are A Dumb Initiative by Michael Stanton
Smart boards are a waste as they are a replica of the chalkboard. The teacher stands in front of class, writes and points to material for an entire class. Smart boards are siomply an expensive chalkboard.
Administrators can justify more money in the budget because of the expensive purchase of a smart board. They look good in class but little for learning.
Why I Hate Interactive White Boards by Bill Ferriter
Bill calls the white board a high priced contraption. The purchase of white boards are a total waste of money. This money can be put back into the schools.
You have these good looking expensive contraptions in the classroom which never get any use. Teachers continue to use the chalk board because they haven't been trained and don't know how to use them.
Clemente,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the students know more than the teachers do most of the time, but the teachers are needed for guidance and support also. Without them, the students would not continue to grow as students. I hope I am prepared to be a teacher! I love the idea of PLN because as you said it gives them much more freedom of how they do their work. As far as the smart boards go, I feel that they are much more than an expensive board. These boards give students and teachers hands on opportunities to teach and learn.
I hope that I have access to a blog in whichever school that I end up. I am currently teaching 5th grade math, and I can think of one hundred and ten ways to blog even for math. However, I think that the teacher is a critical part of every student's learning process, and the tech tools we teach about have to be managed just the same as any other instructional device you plan to use.
ReplyDeleteGood post, keep up the good work.
Anthony