This week I had the pleasure of viewing a short video entitled The Networked Student by Dr. Wendy Drexler. Drexler is a former Florida classroom teacher and a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Florida. In Drexler's video she describes what a Networked student is and what the means to teachers. A networked student is one that knows how to be connected to the world around him/her through a variety of tools. For example, networked students today have "personal learning networks" (Drexler) where they are connected to the web, blogs, social networking, peer-reviewed blogs and articles. The connected student may even have their own blog, subscribe to other blogs, or even listen to various podcasts from across the country. Overall, I feel that Drexler is saying today our students are connected to the world and a multitude of educational resources. So, what does this mean for a teacher?? Are teachers even needed if we have podcasts, blogs, online courses, etc.? Of course they are! Teachers are need to facilitate, manage, direct, and is Drexler's terms be a "Network Sherpa" or a "Connected Learning Incubator." I really loved the names she gave teachers because it shows that there is more to teaching than standing in front of your class and talking. It also shows that there will always be a need for teachers even if we are moving towards the use of technology in the classroom.
Throughout this week's readings in Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter, communications, networking, and the internet were discussed in a way that I had never really thought about. Since I have grown up with computers (for the most part) I honestly barely remember what it was like to not have the internet. So, I don't think I ever really bothered to understand how the internet really works and where it came from. Just like Drexler, Shelly, Gunter, and Gunter describe a world where students are connected to the web constantly. For example, the text describes the ePALS program where students can connect different cultures to each other through the web. Furthermore, it explains how our world is forever changing in this digital age. Just as Drexler described student's with personal learning networks, the text states that "Within a few years, the Web will operate at speeds 10,000 times faster than today." It is incredible to think this is even possible, but just think about how that is going to impact a student's personal learning networks. This means students will be connecting with even more students, more networks, and we as teachers need to be there to facilitate this. Also, another part of the text that I think relates to Drexler's video is that teachers and students are becoming a part of a wireless revolution. Numerous schools and institutions are making wireless networking available to the classroom. Having access to wireless internet will make it even easier to incorporate computers and technology into the classroom. I would love to be able to work in a classroom where students can have laptops at their desk.
"I really loved the names [Drexler] gave teachers because it shows that there is more to teaching than standing in front of your class and talking."
ReplyDeleteI recall a statement that I picked up years ago (sometime around my first year teaching, I think) that is relevant here:
"Telling isn't teaching, and listening isn't learning."
So, not only do I think that there is "more" to teaching than standing up and talking, I'm not even sure that qualifies as teaching.
However, we all have such *deeply* in-grained assumptions about teaching that it is difficult for many of us to accept the proposition that the teacher in Drexler's video is actually "teaching."
Hi Catherine,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your interesting post. You wrote, "Just as Drexler described student's with personal learning networks, the text states that "Within a few years, the Web will operate at speeds 10,000 times faster than today." It is incredible to think this is even possible, but just think about how that is going to impact a student's personal learning networks."
Whenever I think about how the Internet and www are growing so fast, I get totally overwhelmed. I mean, I cannot even imagine the Internet being 10,000 faster! We'll be an even MORE instant gratification nation. Is that good? Yes, I think so.
I once worked in a college learning lab that was constantly overheating every day. With 100 computers in the lab, the temperature in the room would average almost 90 degrees, despite the fans. One day, I asked why they didn't put enough air conditioning units in the building. One of the tutors, who had worked there for years, said, "When they built this building, this wasn't a lab full of computers. It was just desks. When they built this building, a single computer fit in a room this size. Nobody imagined that computers would get smaller and actually SIT on the desks!" Wow. Periodically, I'd ask him to tell me "what it was like" when he worked out at the Space Center - and all the technology he'd seen and worked with in his life. Interestingly enough, our future generations will be asking US the same questions!
I got a lot out of the Drexler video. It really shows that when we, the teachers (learning concierges or learning architects - I liked the names, too!) teach our students HOW to use their resources properly, we have a more connected, life-long learner.
Thanks for sharing!
Christi S
Thanks for such a thought-provoking post. I certainly agree with you that we will always need the teacher, but the role is definitely shifting. You are right that teachers will need to facilitate and manage, but I also think there will always be a need for the teacher to "teach content". I am a proponent of using podcasts in the classroom. However, I think that podcasts can be used to deliver content and to further explain and clarify difficult concepts. By using podcasts to provide students to expand upon and reinforce their knowledge it may allow teachers to provide some individualized attention.
ReplyDeleteI think your comment of never bothering to learn about the actual workings of the Internet is quite common. We become accustomed to something and most do not think about what makes it work. It is similar to driving a car. How many people that drive a car understand the different parts and how the parts interact with each other to produce the final product. As people do not give a lot of thought about how things were before we had cars we will probably look at the Internet in the same fashion. Once EVERYTHING is wireless, will we give much thought about what it was like without wireless capabilities and connections?
I share in your desire to be in a classroom where all students have a laptop. I think about the unlimited collaboration possible between students, students outside of their classroom and the teachers.
Yes, you are right. Things are slow, but even if we look at what is new over the past ten years, it is quite amazing.
Again, I enjoyed your insight.
I liked the fact that you really wrote to an audience who are not a part of our class. Specifically, I liked how you gave the background and summary of the author of “The Networked Student” which gave me some insight on how to improve my own blogs. I liked how you gave reason to why teachers are and will always be a part of learning. The stereotypes of how typical teachers just stand up and teach, to what we really do that is to facilitate learning. The statement that we will always be needed no matter what changes in the field of technology is so very true as we all must weather the storm of changes in the classroom if it is to be new technology or new standards from our department of education.
ReplyDeleteI actually felt a bit aged by your statement of not having a memory without Internet. I remember the first Zenith computer that my dad got, but this shows that students that enter our classrooms won’t remember a time when tablets and wireless connection was absent from everyday life. If you have watch reruns of certain sitcoms you can see how different things like TVs and cell phones have come in such a short time period. The basic idea that I could infer, along with your points about the leaps that technology will take, is that so many of the jobs that I am preparing my elementary students for aren’t even a job yet. Without teachers being able to educate themselves with the knowledge of technology that is available and that will be standard in classrooms. We won’t be effective teachers. It doesn’t seem far off that the use of technology will be a part of our evaluations, and once it is fully implemented in the classroom, I can see that we will all have to be certified with technology certificates just like the ESOL mandates of a few years past.
I to would love to have much more in technology, but as I have written many times before it comes down to money. The private sector must contribute, or be mandated to contribute more funds into education in order for us to truly have the hardware and supplies to educate students correctly to how to use technology. Right now it seems that students learn more outside of the classroom then in, when it comes to technology.
Catherine wrote, "Since I have grown up with computers (for the most part) I honestly barely remember what it was like to not have the internet."
ReplyDeleteWhile on the one hand this makes me feel old (even though I first got the Internet in high school), I can see how this could be an advantage to you as a teacher. You can relate more with the students as you use technology to guide our connected students.
Catherine wrote: "Having access to wireless internet will make it even easier to incorporate computers and technology into the classroom."
I would probably add in the word "reliable" to your statement. I still have this pie in the sky dream that one day all my students will have their own laptop with wireless internet. The last time I tried to use our portable lab (with portable wireless router), I gave up by second period because I couldn't get it to work even with the tech's help. I would love to see this idea implemented, but we have to make sure the technology is reliable before we can depend on it fully.
Catherine wrote, "So, I don't think I ever really bothered to understand how the internet really works and where it came from."
Honestly, I probably wouldn't have known before reading this textbook if I hadn't gone to UCLA for undergrad. We Bruins are very proud that we helped invent the Internet.
Well, that and Al Gore. :-)
Kelley
Great post....
ReplyDeleteI am old school, I came from an era that used electric typewriters and thought we had advanced so far... Now I look back over the years and see how far we have really come. From typewriters to word processors to computers to windows to internet to wireless. I know we are heading into some awesome technology like we have never imagined. However, there has always been an instructor in the class room and I believe we will always need an instructor to facilitate the education no matter how far the technology will rise.Educators are very passionate individuals in our subject matter expertise.We will always find innovate ways to reach our students,in order to be on top of the scene, is to be life long learners our selves.
Thanks for all the great comments/feeback! I really enjoyed reading every comment!
ReplyDeleteKelly-- yes, RELIABLE would be a great addition to that sentence...I have had that same problem w/the mobile lab!