Technology Is Their Birthright

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This blog post opens with a YouTube video clip (so you may need to read this blog post from home, if your school blocks YouTube) that Marc Prensky showed during his general session at the 21st Century Learners Symposium hosted by CTAP Region 11. It contained some facts that I first saw in Karl Fisch’s “Did You Know

” presentation, but it also had some statistics (as of November, 2007) of which I was not aware. For example, statistics have shown that students like to create and communicate online, through personal web sites and social networking sites. However, 76% of teachers have never used a blog, wiki, or podcast. 63% of teachers never let their students create anything new with technology. 61% of reading teachers never use digital storytelling software. These statistics demonstrate how difficult it is for teachers to relate with the technological mindset of today’s students.

Continuing on this theme, Marc pointed out that students view technology as a verb, while teachers view it as a noun. Teachers should not focus on learning specific technologies, such as PowerPoint, blogs, or wikis; as these technologies will be outdated by 2015. (Regarding PowerPoint specifically, students feel that technology is appropriate for grades 1-6, after 6th grades, students know enough about PowerPoint to move to more advanced technology, such as Flash.) Instead, teachers should work with students to adapt to our changing environment. If technology continues to double every year, in 30 years (when current elementary students will be adults), computers will be a billion times more powerful than they are right now. That scale of change is the equivalent of moving from ENIAC to cell phones. This scope of changes means it is impossible to work with the educational model that teachers can dispense meaningful information that will last for their students.

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Instead, Marc proposes that teachers need to change their role from lecturer to guide. In the past, students often game to school “in the dark.” And teachers shed light and showed the world to the students, piece by piece. Now, students are coming to school with other sources of light, such as the Internet (especially YouTube, a source for student creativity and sharing that Marc pleaded for schools to unblock). To inspire teachers to become guides, Marc quoted Einstein, who said, “I never try to teach my students anything, I only try to create an environment in which they can learn.”

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Mamma Mia! rip Jacknife video In order to become guides, Marc suggested that the teachers focus on engagement and turn their classrooms into No Boredom zones. He went as far as to quote some students who said their teachers should change teaching methods every few days. As teachers develop the skills to work with students to engage them in learning, Marc warned that they should expect to go through five stages:

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• Hiding
• Panic
• Acceptance
• Comfort
• Power

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