The Connected Student

A creative video recounting an actual high school assignment and how a particular student used a ‘learning network’ approach for the research. Of course, this student already has the skills to ‘control his own learning’ and use the Internet as his primary resource. Are we providing our elementary and middle school students with similar learning experiences to help prepare them for a project like this? Are we the teacher that is described at the end of the video?

The format was inspired by the CommonCraft – Plain English series and Alec Couros’ Networked Teacher graphic

 

Chris Lehmann @ISTE 2011

I had the opportunity to attend the ISTE – International Society of Technology in Education conference in Philadelphia this week. It was three days of interacting with other educators about unlocking the potential of the children we teach. Many of the conversations focused on embracing the fact that they are a digital generation, learning more about the way they learn and understanding/exploring the tools they are using.

One of the highlights of this learning experience was the final keynote. A principal at the Science Leadership Academy, Chris Lehmann is quickly becoming a well-known voice for educational reform.
What do you think about what he has to say?

Check out the video below…it is the complete video…so you can actually avoid a lot by starting at the 32 minute mark to hear poetry from some kids from SLA and then Lehmann.

 

Visions of Students Today

Dr. Michael Wesch, an Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology and Digital Ethnography @ Kansas State University, put together an interactive video collage highlighting hundreds of video entries of digital learners. You can read his latest blog entry to learn more about the project and check out the project @ http://visionsofstudents.org/ .

This site was built with HTML5 which allows one (with the latest versions of Firefox, Safari and Chrome) to interact with the collage by selecting any of the images to view more video. Once you watch the 5:00+ minute video, you can click the “Show All” tab in the upper left corner to select an image.

This is a great example of the digital learners that will enter our class. Understanding how they see the world and use technology might help us better engage their learning and help them disconnect to focus without the digital world…model a balanced life.

Below is the non-interactive video.

 

Digital Visitors & Residents v. Digital Immigrants & Natives

Chapter 12 of our course text Curriculum 21 referred to Marc Prensky’s concept for understanding the digital learner. Prensky classified educators as Digital Natives (born into a digital world) and the Digital Immigrants (take on the digital world while holding onto life before) – [you can read more about this concept in our Blackboard course>Class Activities>21st Century Skills]. Does the age of the learner really matter? I did not grow up with the access to technology that my 5 year old daughter has. So does this make me an immigrant with an accent?

Many educators in technology are beginning to reject Prensky’s concept. John White is an educator and researcher that has a different concept, Digital Visitors v. Digital Residents. Check out his blog post and video below to learn more.

http://blip.tv/play/gZgRgabwDAI

What do you think? Add a comment to this post as one of this week’s assignments.

 

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading

Check out this resource, TED mentioned at Friday’s class.

The video below is one of the most watch TED Talk videos from 2006, with Sir Ken Robinson.   Is it still relevant?

Many TEDx events are hosted locally. Check out one of my favorites with Dan Meyer at a TEDxNYED

More resources;

Sortable Google Spreadsheet of all TED Talks

TEDED

10 TED talks for teachers to watch

 

Blogging 101

View this document on Scribd

 

The Digital Diet: How to break free of your smartphone and other gadgets

Check out the following questions posed by Washington Post writer Daniel Sieberg’s article.

Q: Do you ever feel the urge to pull out your smartphone while someone else is making a point in a conversation?

Q: Have you ever realized that you were texting or checking your e-mail while your child was telling you about her day at school?

Q: Have you ever felt that something hasn’t really happened until you post it on Facebook?

Q: Does a flashing red light on your BlackBerry make your heart flutter?

Q: Are you spending time with your spouse or significant other without talking to each other because you’re each immersed in a different device?

To read more about the Digital Diet @ http://wapo.st/mHfHeS

Also, from the same reporter; How dependent are you on technology? Measure your Virtual Weight Index.

 

Did You Know 4.0

Reactions?

How does this change your perspective on entering education?

Check out the transcript and links for sources here>>>