My Junk can be a student's Treasure

In a world which is constantly developing, why do teachers continue to rely on teacher-directed instruction and textbooks that smell as old as they look? In the post, We need more "Junk" in the Classroom, from the blog, TeachPaperless, the blogger made a significant point about incorporating tangible materials and activities in the classroom. While at the museum, the bloggers children were engaged with hands-on activities that fostered creativity, imagination, and was extremely engaging. He had a hard time pulling his children away to see the rest of the museum. Now if only teachers could enhance lessons that we had a hard time pulling our students away, now that would be a great success.

When referring to "Junk" in the classroom, teachers often take fore-granted items that seem irrelevant to us, when they actually foster critical thinking, problem solving, and imagination. Students may look at old clocks, train collections, and old camera and become engaged and interested in learning it's story. Let children play and touch these objects that may mean nothing to you. To them, it may be the coolest thing they've ever seen.

Ning- Another Educational Resource

While searching for a Ning which I could relate to on a professional level, I came across something that is every elementary teachers dream! The Ning, K-3 Teacher Resources Forum, is a great tool to use on so many levels. They talk about behavior management plans, children with special needs, literacy concerns, everyday encounters...you name it, they talk about it. What is just as great is that there are printable's which you can print out and use in your own classroom, vocabulary words, ways to incorporate technology in the classroom, and educational websites. If a teacher is ever in a bind and needs worksheets, or seeks advice from experienced teachers on a certain topic, you get back many replies which will definitely help aide in an appropriate course of action. Just like Alan-Levine says, "We can't know it all," so seek assistance from someone who has that piece of knowledge you are missing!

The Learner of Today

It is well understood that students no longer rely on one source of information to gain knowledge and better their understandings. Would we want our student's to rely on one source anyways? Isn't it believed the more sources the better, because not only do you get more reliable data, but you get the opinions of many to help us interpret and evaluate in order to come to our own decisions about a certain topic. Looking at the learner of today, so much more is available to help foster critical thinking in the classroom then just ten years ago. One aspect that plays a very important role in fostering such growth is technology.

The learner of today collaborates, shares thoughts and opinions, and is always up for gaining insights from others. This learner of today is like a team mate, knowing that there is no "I" in team. Team mates know that collaboration is extremely important, otherwise a wrong play could have been made if only 1 person was allowed to voice their opinion. This goes for the learner of today. Listening to others views and opinions help to engage and enlighten a certain topic, opening doors where one may have not thought to go before. Like a team mate, the learner of today (teachers as well) has to stay current with what is going on. If a player doses off for a split second, the other team may have a chance at scoring. Similarly, technology is always advancing, always opening new doors to collaborate, share opinions, and enhance our education. If we do not take advantage of this ever changing atmosphere, we may miss out on something that can really impact our learning. Teachers especially need to stay current because as times change, so do learning styles. Technology is a great way to enhance education and and to motivate students because most students are already familiar with new technology, and they may become more engrossed as the learning options multiply.

George Siemen's learning theory of Connectivism supports collaboration and understands that learners must utilize what is given to them. In his article, Connectivism, A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, Siemen's makes it known that learning no longer has to take form in memorization, as long as the learner knows where to find his information. He is quoted, "Know-how and know-what is being supplemented with know-where (the understanding of where to find knowledge needed)." This could not relate more with the digital world we are living in because information is constantly at our fingertips. We will be learning more in knowing how to utilize this information then trying to remember everything we have ever read, which would be impossible. Furthermore, in his YouTube video The Network is the Learning, Siemens takes note that we are constantly able to stay current with people all over the world through collaborating, either through the internet, skype, phone, etc. Because technology is constantly evolving and stays current, it is essentially the learning because so much can be done with something that is constantly changing and constantly connected. We use the internet to learn from others, whether it is reading their blogs, asking for advice, or collaborating for a meeting. The learner of today utilizes what is at their fingertips and is essentially preparing themselves for the future.

Technology in the Classroom

Have you ever wondered what education is going to look like thirty years from now? Do you ever ponder on the progress education has made in the last fifty years? What about all the new technologies that have developed in the past five years? This is something I do on a regular basis, intrigued by all of these great developments currently at our fingertips. After viewing the videos "A Vision of K-12 Students Today" and "Pay Attention," it was hard not to get goose bumps at the chilling realizations that were touched upon. Society is at a time where we are running full throttle and not looking back. It amazed me to take into consideration that in five years from now, half of the jobs students will apply for currently do not exist. Half of the jobs?! From a teachers standpoint, I embrace these technologies whole-heartedly. Why you ask? Because as a teacher, our job is to motivate and intrigue our students into wanting to learn. It should not be a chore, but something that they are driven by. Too many teachers today are not taking advantage of these tools to help enhance our students education. More then half of our students use these technologies on a daily basis, so why not incorporate their interests into learning? Furthermore, living in a digital age, these children are most likely going to get jobs that are required to use technology, so why not build on their love and interest of the digital world to help build motivated employees of tomorrow? If using technology in the classroom helps drive a child's passion of learning, creating a life-long learner, in the end I would be greatly satisfied.

Please watch these videos, they are very inspiring:

A Vision of k-12 Students Today

Pay Attention