How would I explain Marc Prensky's method of presenting a workshop? Two words (and a conjunction): Shock and Awe - and I wouldn't say this is necessarily a good thing. Prensky, best know for his coining of the terms "digital native" and "digital immigrant", flew through a PowerPoint presentation with sweeping words, some sweeping ideas, and some really annoying sound effects. I found many of his points interesting, but I think his message is now a few years too old. Yes kids use technology in new ways, we know that, that's why we're here. Yes things are changing fast, but again, that's why we're at this conference. We don't need to know why, we're here to learn how. (In all fairness regarding the question of how, he had given a pre-conference about using computer games in education. This talk would have better suited my inquiries). Following twitter feeds of those who saw his talk, some went as far to say that his ideas are digitally racist – pitting teachers vs students. I don’t know if I would phrase it like that, but I do think he generalizes to an extreme. I also got the impression that he believes, for the most part, that all kids have access to the same technology. He made the point that, even if a child doesn’t have an ipod, he or she likely has a friend who owns one, and therefore knows how ipods work. I think this is a dangerous assumption.
Here are my notes from his talk. I apologize for their lack of structure, but it was quite difficult following his sound-bite presentation style. Again, my thoughts are in iltalics.Programming is the key to 21st century learning. How do we “retool” teachers?
What’s coming in 5-10 years? Expect change, expect a new paradigm for learning, new rules of engagement.
The right stuff is change! “email is for old people” if tech doubles every year, tech will be 1 billion times powerful in 30 years – we’re working at the atomic level. Are we walking backwards into the future, in order to see familiar things?
I like this phrasing – there is fear walking forward into the future when one has such security in the past.New tools come fast
Youtube really matters – strong tool of the future.
This too I believe. Kids watch more than read these days – we could fight it, or have them watch powerful learning tools.Kids were born with the idea of rapid change - Change that threatens teachers, empowers kids. Kids context of education is global from day one.
Old way – use pre-existing tools to solve problem New way - make a new tool to solve your problem. How do teachers help kids make new tools?
I like this notion – ties in to McCain’s idea (Ted, not John) about the need to teach children to be problem solvers. Building a new tool is sometimes the only way to solve a problem.
Kids are already global citizens. Teachers looks at technology as a tool, kids look at it as a foundation.
Every teacher will need to change, give up control to the students, become a partner with the students.
Give up control? Teachers will always need to help kids make good decisions. There is a difference between understanding the desires, fears, goals, and tools-used of one's students and "giving up control" to those things.Feel the fear, then do it anyway. That’s courage! So we need to find the courage to change.
Kids are not “little us’s” Kids are reading books less. Kids think that digital tech is their birthright. Kids approach their life differently because of technology.
Equity? – no, but help the divide.
I wish he had expanded more on this idea.Kids “power down” when they get to school. Power down their brains too.
This is a common theme.
Admin hire on empathy. Kids are bored when teachers talk talk talk. If we talk about the past, even with new technology, they still get bored. Kids passion is their future! Kids know how big tech power will be in their future.
Teach our kids to be effective.
After school programs can sometimes be the only technology-based educational time for kids. How do they learn in school, compared to their after school tech world? Can schools compete?
The Innovators Dilemma – book Clayton Christianson
Has anyone read this? Recommend?Kids tell us what they want – this provides successful teaching, so what’s the role of technology?
Just because its tech, it doesn’t make it engaging.
Great point – how we use technology will determine if it’s engaging.Techs only role – is to support the new paradigm of teaching – kids teaching themselves with the guidance of teachers. (old paradigm – kids being taught) Tech does not support the way we do now, lectures. If fact, tech hinders the old method of teaching. Schools have dropped laptops because they weren’t engaging. They were using the old paradigm.
Tech allows kids to do what they do well, old way lets teachers do what they do well. Teachers must change their teaching ways before using technology. Change paradigm, then let kids use tech to move forward. Old ways are useless for going forward. You just cant stand up and tell us. “The sage on the stage” has expired –
Don’t just be comfortable with tech, us it to get more powerful!
Ideas to explore:
Search vs research – good to decipher
Fair use vs plagiarism
We’re all learners, we’re all teachers –
This is a great phrase – I’m going to put it up on my class wall!!!Don’t give kids content, help them find it meaningful, help them create it! Balance top down with bottom up. Don’t engage to students, engage with students. Ask them if there are better way to teach you.
Kids should assist with teacher professional development.
Great idea – I learned more about my teaching with one SurveyMonkey survey this year than all past years combined.