When the world has already been inventing ways to access information quicker and easier, when dreamers are already envisioning a way to do this without the clunky mobile device in our pockets, why are we in education still embracing the "know" and "does not know" mentality?
News flash: innovators will continue to create new ways that technology can deliver basic facts and relevant information to others. Technology already allows us to find correct answers to any basic question, even more complex questions such as solving a set of two variable linear equations (just search WolframAlpha).
Having a solid base of understanding in any particular area of study is important, but I think we could all agree this alone does not make a person successful.
So, with the infusion of technology everywhere, how can we teach kids to use technology to their advantage? Teach them sift through the noise. Teach them to learn how to create real things with technology and share those creations with the world. Teach them how to use technology to better themselves, their community, and/or their world.
Ask yourself, are you an outdated educator? Do you put more value on the facts that your students know, or are you more interested in what your students can do with those facts? Do you think that facts have to be learned before students develop skills on how to apply them, or do you let students discover concepts for themselves? Do you give packets for homework, or do you provide students with a thought-provoking challenge that makes them want to learn the content?
Most of all, are you an education dreamer and innovator? Education could use a lot more of these!
My inspiration tonight is the following video from 2009 ...
Link: http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html
News flash: innovators will continue to create new ways that technology can deliver basic facts and relevant information to others. Technology already allows us to find correct answers to any basic question, even more complex questions such as solving a set of two variable linear equations (just search WolframAlpha).
Having a solid base of understanding in any particular area of study is important, but I think we could all agree this alone does not make a person successful.
So, with the infusion of technology everywhere, how can we teach kids to use technology to their advantage? Teach them sift through the noise. Teach them to learn how to create real things with technology and share those creations with the world. Teach them how to use technology to better themselves, their community, and/or their world.
Ask yourself, are you an outdated educator? Do you put more value on the facts that your students know, or are you more interested in what your students can do with those facts? Do you think that facts have to be learned before students develop skills on how to apply them, or do you let students discover concepts for themselves? Do you give packets for homework, or do you provide students with a thought-provoking challenge that makes them want to learn the content?
Most of all, are you an education dreamer and innovator? Education could use a lot more of these!
My inspiration tonight is the following video from 2009 ...
Link: http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html
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