21st Century Skills vs. 20th Century Schools

In a nutshell, this article painted a picture of today's "Net Generation", students who grew up in the digital age, are comfortable with technology and enjoy instant access to information. This poses an interesting question to traditional education, because curriculum and pedagogy reflect the learning styles of previous generations who are accustomed to direct instruction, learning content from text and library research. However, students on the Net Generation are visual learners who respond to images and video and need to be visually stimulated to process information. I was particularly intrigued by this passage in the article stating that,today's students brings a consumer orientation to education, which is viewed as a commodity to be consumed, acquired and accumulated." (Taylor,2006) Does this mean that students learn only what is pleasing to them or that is easy to access? Should teachers teach lessons in short sound bites with visual images constantly on display. Excuse me for being cynical, but as I read further, I thought to myself, should teachers even teach students how to read, given the fact that students respond to visual imagery better?

Ok, ok, all cynicism aside. The part of the article I found most useful described how teachers can augment their lessons to integrate technology and address the learning styles of this generation. The description of the WWII lesson where geotracking was used to click on different areas and bring up a visual with related information, was innovative and interesting. Definitely this method of instruction would truly engage students and give them the opportunity to truly connect with a historical event. I also liked the portion of the article where they make the argument for project based learning and delayed gratification. Students need to understand that learning is a process, and that it exists in stages, where skills are learned and applied to complex problems.

On a personal note, we need to find a balance, students and teachers in integrating traditional instruction and learning with the 21st century skills required today.

Education for a Digital World

Ok, I loved this reading. Why? Because it provides a concise summary of various Web 2.0 tools, what they do and why they are useful. As I read some of the summaries, I tried to think of ways I could implement these tools into my existing curriculum. For example, I used blogs last year so my students could write about a recycling project we introduced last year. The blog was a nice opportunity for students to learn how to blog and to chronicle their "recycling and composting journey". When I look back on the experience, I regret not making the project more interactive, where students were encouraged to comment on each other's blogs or continue their blogs after the assignment was finished. This is what the article referred to as "social computing".

Here is a link to one of my student's blog: http://carloscmma.blogspot.com/

After reading this article, I thought some more about how I could alter the assignment for next semester, for example, requiring students to answer an essential or inquiry-based question on recycling or reduction, conduct research and record their findings on the blog.

Class Discussion, Week 3

It was great to read the comments on my blog as well as read other's blogs about the course and their experience with "connectivism" and Web 2.0. It is refreshing to virtually and physically collaborate with others on similar topics and interests. I also felt that the presentations were excellent and better than information I would receive on the web about the particular tools. Now I feel motivated to use these tools rather than "get around" to using them.

I am looking forward to using Web Paint and to compare it with Google Sites, formerly known as Google pages. I like Google sites for its simplicity and ease of use. From what I've seen so far, Wet Paint is similar, and should be fun to use.

To all the educators in the class, thanks for the comments and expertise.

Siemens, Week Three

"We are preparing learners for an era that no longer exists, with a skill set that does not enable effective navigation of today's complex, adaptive world."

This quote, at the beginning of this week's reading made me pause for a moment and reflect on my own teaching practices. As I stated in my previous post, my job requires that I teach students various multimedia software and Web 2.0 tools. Often, my colleagues and I engage students in project based learning, where they investigate a problem, research and write about their findings, then assemble information in a multimedia project such as a website or video public service announcement. It's very exciting to teach students how to post their own blog or create a video, or design a website. The real challenge, as an instructor, is not in teaching the software, but in choosing the best tools to create the product and developing an efficient workflow for students to move their project from the research phase to production. Often my students, and I to a certain extent, can get mired in the production process and lose sight of the content. However, I must pause and remember that content is the most important element to most media projects and I must constantly remind students of this.

George Siemens and Connectivism Theory

It's really interesting to think about what learning means today in the digital age, particularly in my role as learner and instructor. As a Multimedia and Computer instructor, I constantly have to stay ahead of the curve and remain current in the emerging technologies, including operating software, software updates, new Web 2.0 tools and the web. Therefore it is essential for me to not only access information, but to stay connected with others in my field and discover ways to filter information to find what I need, when I need it. Siemens article validates my experience in staying current with new technology and activating my new skill sets to retrieve information.

Another point raised in Siemen's article that interests me is the need for organizational management of information. As an instructor, my role is to impart knowledge and teach students the skill sets to retrieve and categorize information so they can access it later. This is a difficult task as an instructor, because the skill sets and filters required to retrieve information are constantly changing. So, in order for me to be an effective instructor, I have to be an effective learner and continuously update my skill sets and filters.