technology for investment in the parents’ perspective was a school website or portal with 60 percent of the parents selecting it as their top choice for driving student achievement." (pg.8) This was a hue help from a personal standpoint, because when I was in high school I was able to access my grades, teachers, assingments, and classmates via a school sponsored website. The parents really enjoyed it, because grades were made readily avaiable, and students were not able to lie about what was going on in class as everything was laid out in front of them. It kept me balanced and on top of my work, because the last thing I wanted was for my parents to either catch me in a lie, or see the bad grades I was getting. The only problem I saw with the social-based learning was the fact that the students asked the schools to make communication websites more readily avaiable to them, but at the same time it might sound like a set up for kids to only mess around on those websites instead of using them as an aid.
Un-tethered learning was probably the one learning source to me that was personally a "no-no" in school without having to provide me with data convincing me otherwise. Not because I do not think that 24/7 access to the internet and high speed world won't help the students, but rather it is a BIG distraction. In Figure 6 and 7on page 10. gives us a chart that shares how productive it can be for the student to have their various devices out during school time. In the student's eyes having laptops, phones, ipods out during class will help them organize themselves, communicate with others, write down notes, look up work and record the teachers. I personally believe it is hard for college students to do that without getting distracted or even off task during the school day. I look around and see fellow classmates on Facebook during lecture, and when I ask them what was just said they have no idea. I plan on being a principal one day, and no matter what electronics will not be tolerated during the school year until after school hours.
Digitally-rich learning experiences is one of the best ideas one can have when it comes to making teenagers, and grammar school students learn at a faster rate. In figure 16 on page 21it has a poll that the students participated in that talked about the use of games, and on-line instruction that the kids thought benefited them the most. I agree 100% with what the students said was the biggest positives where when they used on-line learning, because it seemed to come a little bit easier for them when they were able to see learning in a fun way. Ever since education has moved more towards the digital age it has enhanced the quality of work, because of turnitin.com, and even taking online tests to prevent cheating. Students will study harder and longer if they know they have to take an on-line test that has time constraints and is a little bit harder than your regular in class exams. Online textbooks I don't think they will work soley, because when I used to work with kids back home not all of them have computers at home, and it was a burden for their families to walk them to school after school just so they can do the homework online when they can just as well do it in the kitchen. We don't know the status of the children when they go home so it may be better not to put a student in an awkard cituation.
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteThank you for provided references to specific data in the article that caught your attention. I am impressed with your reflections and aspirations (principle one day)! Excellent first post!
Dr. Hayden