We are all in agreement that if we want students to be more engaged in their reading, they should have more choice and read books that are based on their interests, right? (Great post by Nancy Ehrlich on reading logs.)
Then why are we not all in agreement about having tools in our schools such as computers and hand-held devices that students enjoy using for their learning?
Why does it seem to me like it is kind of the same thing?
Pingback: Tweets that mention Same thing? « The Principal of Change -- Topsy.com
Couldnt agree more. Why are we so afraid to put tech in their hands? Dont we have to teach them how to be responsible with textbooks and other learning tools? Why doesnt this apply to cells, ipads, etc.
Great post, i am from Burlington High school, and i agree with you one hundred percent. We should be able to use technology in classrooms, we are allowed to use cell phones in school for educational purposes. Using technology can make learning more interesting, instead of just sitting in rows listening to a teacher talk.
Completely agree. Students should be comfortable in school and use the tools that help them. Students have to read all those classic books in schools still but why not choose the ones they want to read once and a while? They should definitely do the same with tools such as using the textbook and the internet and other tools students use. Sometimes students are more comfortable in the internet than teachers and they know many tools to help them that teachers don't even know but they could help the students. The students should be comfortable when they learn.
I think we worry about control too much in schools and anything that we can't have total control over is problematic for us. We worry about having everything perfected before we unleash it on our schools. We will never get to the point where everyone will have a handle on the change that will occur in our schools when we allow these new tools to be embraced in our classrooms for learning. All I know is that we will have a huge jump in the level of engaged students due to these tools. That is something that I am dying to see. The details will be a work in progress. They always are anyway!
this is very true coming from a student i will tell you first hand that using these devices in school helps
I agree, it is one and the same. Unfortunately a lot of schools still don't even recognize that students should be able to choose their own reading material.
It IS the same thing:-)
Great questions, George. I think we would agree on the answers. We need to keep working to convince others.
It is such a tumultuous time for policy makers. Many of those in positions of influence are not familiar with the technologies that are available to students and educators. As a result, the kneejerk reaction is to slow the process so that the lowest common denominator in the equation can be made to feel comfortable. One of the best things that was done in our district was to have students do a presentation to our Senior Administration on technology that they use. What an eye opener!
I think having laptops and hand-helds would make learning a lot easier. When someone has trouble with a subject, they can look up tips and tutorials online. This makes learning so much easier. I know that when i don't get something in class, I go home and look up how to do it online because it just makes everything easier. Every teacher wonders why their students don't get a topic that they find easy. It's because learning it isn't always fun. If there are fun ways to learn online, why don't we use them? Having laptops in class would be a great idea.
-Akash Patel