Week 5: Video and Reading Reflection

This week’s video and readings were filled with great details about how to engage students in 21^st century learning with technology.  I feel like my district already does a good job of utilizing many interactive software programs in the district curriculum.  We integrate software like Big Brainz, Think Through Math, iStation, and Destination Success.  Many of these programs the students can even log in from home on, and continue their learning experience.  Technology affects how students live and communicate and when, where, and how they learn.  Having digital technology at their fingertips all the time means that students think, work, and play differently from previous generations (Solomon, 2007). 

            Video games and technologies put you into situations where you are forced to solve problems.  “If you think about it, a video game is just a big assessment” (Gee, 2008).  You are constantly having to problem solve.  In a game type scenario, assessment is considered fun.  However, in a typical classroom assessment is the worst part of the day.  Games don’t separate learning and assessment.  They are constantly providing feedback so that you can continue to problem solve.  I have always thought that many video games provide the type of engagement that students of the 21^st century require and need in order to be successful in the classroom.  Then again, there’s always the looming question that it’s a little unfair that we would provide all these differentiated technology related forms of assessment in the classroom, and then expect them take a paper based state assessment at the end of the school year which will ultimately tell them if they have mastered the grade level standards. 

            “A good education is going to be more and more difficult, and I see teachers more as coaches and role models because in today’s digital age, the information is so easily accessible” (Gardner, 2009).  The goal of new digital media is to provide information to a wide population.  This idea that teachers should slide into a more facilitator like role is important when designing student centered instruction with a project based learning feel.  Giving students the resources and tools to problem solve, but also providing them the space and time to collaborate together is vital to their learning process.

            The new media that Sasha Barab spoke about is a highly engaging way of presenting the content in a video game where they student is an active member of the learning process.  They are presented with challenges, and given the role as a “scientist” or “doctor”.  They take on this new persona in problem solving experience.  “Media has no longer become a place where we can sit back on the couch, and watch someone else’s stories” (Barab, 2009).  Barab mentioned that print based literacy and textbooks as they were traditionally framed and used were really powerful for a long time.  But, we’re in a different time now.  It’s not so much about getting the information; it’s about using information to accomplish tasks.  What’s interesting is that when failure is experienced in a game setting, it is usually handled in a more motivating fashion than when experienced in a non-game method.   This video was extremely interesting, and was full of information about how new digital media can be used in the classroom.

References

Edutopia.org (nd). Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Digital Youth. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-howard-gardner-video

Edutopia.org (nd). Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-james-gee-video

Edutopia.org. (nd). Big Thinkers: Sasha Barab on New-Media Engagement. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-sasha-barab-vide

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education

Youtube.com (nd). Vision for Technology in K-12 Education. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhoOG5Kf1w4