Teaching the iGeneration and what Screenagers say...

So what does the iGeneration have to say anyhow?

Well from reading these related articles for our next class on March 1st, called Teaching the iGeneration by Larry D. Rosen and What Screenagers Say About... by ASCD. 
The group of students represented in the articles are telling us more than what many teacher's will admit.  According to the articles, which I agree with, is that the use of technology is all about engagement of the learner, the iGen is soaked in technology all around them as fish in water. 

The advantage of this for the student is that educators are able to refocus their attention on learning, through the use of technology, to pass on the information to the students on their own time, whether it be at home, at the friends house, anytime anywhere-24/7.  This 24/7 access of information through technology allows the iGen student to be in control of their learning, making it work for them.  They are able to access information as many times needed or as much as they want.  Having this personal access enables richer learning because the students can control their learning which is what they are used to in their cyber life.  Teachers are able to make the learning more personal due to the many available online resources which provides a richer learning experience, with more of the students gathering information and learning the way it works best for them touching on their multiple learning styles and intelligences.  I would call this the customized learning.

By allowing students to access the needed information for class on their own time they are more motivated to learn, as well as, more involved in their learning, taking ownership of their learning. 

This iGen needs to use technology more in school.  As Rosen stated: use the technology to convey the content.  Makes the learner more motivated therefore engaging them in their learning and involved in their learning.

Motivating.

Engaging.

By using technology such as text messages before class from the prof to students the class is able to gather information and collaborate before class has begun, freeing up valuable time to make meaning of the discussions that surrounds them in the classroom.

The Screenagers message is quite clear, that is to tell the teachers to not be afraid of using the technology that the iGen are so familiar with, after all, the teachers are expected to prepare the students for their future.  How can teachers do this well if they themselves are not atleast efficient with the many types of technology such as PowerPoint, and Smart boards?

The Screenagers want to let teachers know that they are aware of the dangers of technology:  cyberbullying, social distraction like Facebook, not being able to unplug, having hard copies of documents found on the Web, and that the students need guidance as to how to protect themselves from these problems, which have always been arouond every generation. 

The Screenagers want us as teachers to continue to use what works so far such as the preclass text questions, Instant messaging with your teacher, using responers in the classroom, effective use of PowerPoint presentations where it is not a narration of the slide,  and good old effective teaching staying on top of the students learning and keeping it interactive with an easy going sharing atmosphere where students feel comfortable and respected when they share their ideas.

Cell Phones...Networking or Notworking?....February 6, 2010



Just one is all you need!

 Cell phones in the classroom?-hell yes!

Just starting a little dialogue of a few things that I have been noticing- cell phones are even more useful in the classroom than what I originally suspected, it is just a matter of how I can learn to use this learning tool in my class.  I definitely see the benefits of this tool!

Having read a few articles from class, it is now more apparent that cell phones are here to stay and we must learn to implement this 21st C. teaching tool.  Apparently the TV show writers have been noticing this latest discussion regarding the use of cell phones in school.  I was watching an episode of Gray's Anatomy and there was a surgery being performed by a doctor and all around were a group of student surgeons I believe, they were watching and updating their Tweeter or Twitter pages, in the end, they were able to network and get a medical procedure to succeed by using a social network to communicate instantly.  

Also the surgeon was able to answer questions about the surgery Real Time while it was happening.  Personally I thought this is fabulous however, I also began to think what if something bad happened while he was not paying as close attention to his procedure as perhaps he would be if he was not answering any questions.  Interesting to think about both sides of this Networking issue.

I tend to always embrace the Networking and am excited to bring down the barriers that the older 19th C. school frame of mind has.  Myself, I feel that every child in school should have a smart phone, it is their own personal computer in their pocket. We just need to teach and correct socially appropriate and inappropriate use of the cell phone.  

As I see it the problem is not the phone but rather the user!

We are at a paradigm shift for technology and education, either we embrace the use of technology or we return to the caveman era of the broadcast style of learning.

I have a friend who could operate his business almost entirely through the use of his cell phone.   We were at an event where cell phones were present perhaps not appreciated but nonetheless many were browsing their social networks rather than Face to Face socializing-my friend was able to conduct a business meeting with an associate many hours away in Central Canada.  He was able to complete a deal, and notify his office and partners as it was happening.  Not later on the following day. 

Myself like many other Net Geners I appreciate the 24/7 that Internet and smart phones provide....it is to my discretion how I handle the the call/text/message/email coming into to my inbox and setting off my vibrator...(on my phone!)...keeping this clean (ha,ha). I am able to unplug or disconnect should I choose.

 For me it is about the option to choose.  I am in power.

Do I see cell phones in the classroom in the future? No I see them in the classrooms NOW!  It is how we can harness this technology that is still somewhat in the future for education.  Sadly there are more and more schools who are still unable to make the paradigm shift to implementing the cell phone, and these schools are IMO missing the point of having cell phones in class as highly accessible tools for information gathering and networking. 

AS I see things going with my own personal experience with smart phones it is becoming quite clear that these super phones are able to do many of the same tasks that a personal computer can do, is it possible that smart phones will make the portable (break your shoulder) Lap Top old school?  Perhaps just one or the other is all you need, a cell phone or a laptop?...We will have to wait and see... certainly with CLOUD technology developing giving access to more and more online for storage of documents for example you really can access everything you need online or in the CLOUD.

In conclusion, I feel that the question of cell phone use in school for the use of learning is an easy one, I ask myself what is the dilemma?  What else can we do with the cell phone?

January 25 class Your digital self project video

Well tonites class was a real blurr.
The first part of the night was a whirlwind of what is coming up in the next month-I wish Al would follow up with an email as a follow up outlining the information.

Tonites project was a video shot with a cell phone illustrating the dangers of your digital you's.  My group and I had fun with it, the learning clearly illustrated the skills that we have been working on to date.  One point that I was really happy about was that we were able to work so well together that we finished the assignment in one night.  Yahoo!

AS far as my personal growth and development in this course is going I am continuing to implement my learnings back to the classroom when I can.  My students are now engaged in a 2 tier project.  (ofcourse using computers)  As far as my reading of Don Tapscott, I have been finding many connections to what I am reading regarding Growing up Digital and how children are connection online and representing themselves in many different ways.  Beware of what you post on the Web about yourself.

Part 1.  My students are creating a story to show me how well they are able to organize their ideas in a sequential order using Kidspiration and Word, the finished product is a mini book with text, pictures and other.

Part 2.  My students expressed a real interest in the Halifax Explosion, so we did a guided Web quest to find out as much as we could, I also highlighted the importance in questioning if the website was a safe and accurate site, the students decided that it was safe to stay with websites that they were familiar with like the  CBC and NS Museum website.  After the research part of the explosion they are to write a letter to their friend describing what it is like to live during and after the moments (immediately after) of the Halifax Explosion.

Project Course Outline redo for the 21st Century Learner SJAM

Well since the last class in December I have not written much, it is kinda a waste as there is no feedback or interaction, like chatting with yourself, no fun.  that is not too say that I have not been actively reflecting about my learning, I have been rereading our class articles and have been reading the book Growing Up Digital by Don Tapscott, I bought my own copy!  LOL

I have been enjoying the book very much, I had to get used to his writing style first!  There are many areas in the book that he did not really touch on the various Youtube interviews with him that I have watched, I am also really noticing how OLD his book is - I think that it was published in 2007.  ( I have to go and check now I forget!)

Nonetheless, the project we have been working on - creating an online and paper version course outline manual - for the last week was dreadful, the group work aspect was ok, but the work was a huge undertaking, especially when it came time to do the combining of all the pieces into one document from the other partners.

The first issue I was faced with was bringing together all of the different pieces with different style font, and other variables, into looking the same from beginning to end.  There was also the struggle with totally redoing the formats so that the project appeared as a cohesive piece.  UGH!  All of the pictures had to be resized, most of the pics had to formated, so that they stayed in position, also, some of the styles did not stay the same from the Word compatible version and the Word 2007 version,

Well at first I felt that I was not learning anything new with this assignment.  Nor did I feel that this was a meaningful project, however after spending upwards of 20 hours on this task, I do now feel that I have learned quite a bit as far as the difficulties working with groups on an assignment like this, where formatting is so important, I geuss if not everyone has the same programs ie. versions of Word, this is the underlying problem. 

I have also learned that compatibility is a very serious concern in the 21st Century as far as how a document may appear depending upon different computers and servers and browsers. 

Making a document look professional and visually appealing to a specific audience is a great challenge that I struggled with as I attempted to come up with a solution to both.  If only I had more knowledge and experiences with word processing of this nature.  Certainly to create a document that is hypertextual at the same time is challenging .

I feel that the audience we have targeted for this Course Outline will/may scoff at this attempt as they have experienced electronic documents created by their peers who I feel have better skills in this matter, or even professionals that clearly have had more experiences in this area.

My closing thought is that this type of document creation requires a great amount of creativity and skill with digital media.  The final document that we have created to this point is not as far as I would like to take it, however I do not have necessary skills to get the Outline to the level that I want it to be at this point.

Project Based Learning Assignment - 3 Parts

Grade 2 New Media Assignment

Part 1:  Wordle Assignment:  An Introduction to Wordle

Focus:  The following activities focus on the ability to share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society as well as, pursue personal and aesthetic growth.

Read over and discuss relevant words for Remembrance Day from books read in class.  Create a reference list to be projected on the LCD screen

Demonstrate:  Show them what a wordle is and demonstrate how you can customize the words and other effects like randomization. I indicate that not only do they need to be able to print their own wordle but that they need to be able to share the responsibilities of the group so that each of them is able to successfully create a wordle

Activity 1:

 In pre assigned groups the students are to follow the directions to get to the website wordle.  (I have already linked my class webpage with wordle to help the students go directly where to go.)

Once the students are at the web site I give them instructions as to how to navigate the site, I indicate that each student is responsible to input 4 of their own words, regarding words that they feel is important to them in expressing their ideas about Remembrance Day.  They are to type in their name and the 4 words that they use.  They then each input their information and print.

Print and pass it in.

 Assessment:   

Completed the assignment while sharing the responsibilities are evident- Quick and easy to evaluate:  Students 21^st Century Skills see rubric:

Activity 2:

The students that are in my class (2R) are going to teach the students in the other Grade 2 class (2H) how to use Wordle.  My students are responsible to give the instructions for their friends from the other Grade 2 class.  The students are to complete a Wordle using their names, each taking turns typing in their own names.  Print and pass it in.

Part 2:  Glogster Assignment:  An Introduction to Glogster

Create a Glogster image showing the different emotions that you feel regarding the soldiers that have died in World War 1 and 2 or if you  have family that have been affected by a more recent war.  Perhaps you can even create a peace message.

Part 3:  Primary Pad Assignment:  An Introduction to Primary Pad

Students are to create an account, with the teachers’ help, and set up an online discussion showing their learning about the significance of Remembrance Day connecting their personal learning to global changes that have happened due to the War.   

Students are expected to share their discoveries collaboratively online, using primary pad, applying their knowledge to their own situation, discussing how their lives would be impacted if there was a war in Canada right now. 

By creating this knowledge I would like you to consider the global perspectives influencing your lives as students today, as well as, in your future.

Assessment:   Completed the assignment while sharing the responsibilities are evident- Quick and easy to evaluate!

Students 21^st Century Skills see rubric:

Criteria is a synthesis of the following lessons in the articles:   21st C. Learner, Five Hallmarks of Good Homework,7 Essentials of Project-Based Learning, and Show us What Homework’s For
Purpose:  Did the Student personalizes the purpose of the project?	Evidence of question	Evidence of critical thinking	Evidence of gaining knowledge by reflecting, collaboration, communicating	Personalized the driving question
Efficiency:  Did you learn anything?	Shared knowledge during group discussion responsibly respecting others feelings and manners	Participated productively with the group	Draw conclusions-connect to a real situation real world events	makes informed decisions based on self assessment and group collaboration
Ownership: Personal relationship between the student and the content formed?	Applied knowledge from personal experiences to new situation	Evidence of individual research, generated new questions	Evidence that the student became involved in the decision making process during group work	Student performed activities finding pleasure in personal growth
Competence: (differentiation) Student selected activities based on personal inquiry and time restraints	Evidence of pursuing personal growth by self assessment and openness to new ideas and suggestions	Found additional information on independently	Evidence that student related activities  to personal life	Customized project and components (activities) to personal needs- different style, brochure, different medium to present the message (results)
Aesthetically Appealing -Public Presentation	Aesthetic Growth multiple components digital, visual, textural, technological	Used creative and artistic formats to express personal learning	Trying a variety of formats	Organized uncluttered Attractive Attention grabbing visuals
Self Evaluation -Any new ideas?	Identified own areas of interest-select resources that are engaging	Identified areas of increased skill	Assess own ability to work with others face to face and through digital medium	Assess own growth
Total: Each section is worth one point for a total of 24

Observations:

Movie maker time

Well now I know why it takes so long to make a movie.  To time the song with the words with the images is driving me crazy-every change I make it totally changes the timing of the movie.  I keep changing the music because it is hard to get a song that captures all of the emotion that I want to convey!-it's all about the story I want to tell, the movie in this early stage has some strong enough images that my wife has cried while watching it-this is good!

One thing, of probably many odd things, was movie maker had a problem finding the file.  This concerns me as to how I am supposed to play the movie, must have to figure out a way of saving the file somewhere for the program to find it each time in order for it to work properly, I have decided on a song and have been working on timing.  I am still concerned about showing the movie from a DVD. I am going to have to find out about this little glitch that I have experienced.

I have learned why the 21st Century Learner takes longer at getting any one thing done, it is because they are always doing several other things at the same time, switching is exactly the word, as I have been doing this myself now....uh oh!

wordle again

Well I have  created an activity that all of my students enjoyed today, glogster was a no go, but Wordle is the winner, we were able to do our spelling test digitally through wordle.  Everyone was able to get online this morning and access wordle.  I created a link from my classpage so that I could control how they accessed the site. 

Everyone was able to create a wordle of the weeks spelling work.  They had fun doing the test imagine that!

I had a great time watching the students do this and help certain students work through their social problems which is daily with my group.

I have attempted repeatedly to get the group using glogster, it is just too hard for my grade to use this, and primary pad is out of the picture...sadly.

However I have discussed the online collaboration approach with all of my students who are all connected at home and have full internet access as well as a printer, 19 of 24 is a colour printer.  They have all created wordles for their parents at home.

their homework for this weekend which they all wanted was to create a wordle at home about ideas that they like to write about or their personal interests.

Next week my kids teach the other grade 2 class how to use wordle.

awesome