Sunday, March 2, 2008
Which Technologies Will Shape Education in 2008
In response the the article Which Technologies Will Shape Education in 2008 I feel that the way technology is growing and the amount of technology savvy teachers are growing we might even see more than what was discussed in the article shaping our education system. Distance learning is going on as we speak in some classrooms. With all of the podcasts that have been created as well as how easy it is to create a wiki or even a webpage teachers all over seem to be posting their homework, lessons, and help on the web so students at anytime can go online and get the help they need. Students are creating lessons and videos to help other students or even themselves. I sometimes think back to when I was going to school ( which was not that long ago) how sitting and listening to the teacher was so boring or how I needed help with my homework and no one was able to help me. Now you can find almost any help you need on the computer. I am excited to see where we are at the end of 2008 or even by 2010 what our students will be able to do using the computer!
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2 comments:
My comment is not only about your post on March 2nd but also about your post in December 07 "Cognitive Learning". In case you're wondering, I found your blog on Farryl's "Team Blogs" when I commented about her Cognitive Learning post.
I work for a company that has created an online, reality based, cognitive learning program. The content is directed towards 3-5 year olds but we have found notable gains with student's up to the age of 12.
This is a web based, individualized, cognitive learning program that serves a variety of learning settings, including elementary education, English Language Learners, early learning, and special needs. The computer based curricula offers activities based on real world context, and real pictures. Another very exciting feature about our program is that it collects quantifiable data on each student's progress in real time and viewable by their teacher or principal at anytime. We currently have fourteen data populated charts to show many instances of a class' progress as well as each individual student's progress.
Resent studies: Infant brain development show most of a person's neurons are formed from ages 0-6. If a young child doesn't receive sufficient nurturing, nutrition, parental/caregiver interaction, and stimulus during this crucial period, the child may be left with a developmental deficit that hampers his or her success in kindergarten and beyond.
We must provide the opportunity for all children to utilize their long-term memory and create new areas of interest before the pruning stage begins.
• First the focus must turn from group learning toward the specific focus on the individual. This can be done by understanding individual’s needs, interests, strengths and weaknesses on a real time basis and then providing the stimuli that can grow the individual, filling the potholes necessary for success.
• Curricula that are provided to the child must allow the child to see the purpose, value and personal benefit to be realized from learning –not being entertained or discouraged by present curricula.
• Modern multimedia technology must replace the book as the primary teaching tool used in the classroom. The book requires linear lines of communication with the requirement that the student remember a number of facts, which by in large have limited interest or use to the child. Further 3 out of 4 textbooks found in today’s classrooms are published by foreign owned companies who have no interest in the education change needed in America.
• Parents must take a more active role in their child’s early education. By the time a child enters school their brain has been 85% wired which represents the thinking abilities and areas of interest a child has. Do not expect a teacher to fill in the blanks it is a neurological impossibility.
• Washington State has thousands or wonderfully able and committed teachers. They need better tools to do the job they love. Those tools must provide the teacher with real time information, not historical tests, to allow them to help each child with their varying yet individual needs.
• Teachers need to be paid more as they are able to demonstrate their ability to take their classes to a 100% level of mastery of all subjects.
I hope we have the chance to discuss this subject further.
Linda,
It is amazing how things have changed; at the same time, not everyone has hopped onboard! My daughter, who is an undergrad student, complains often about being bored for the same reasons you state. I think the 'revolution' is happening more at the elementary school level than at others!
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