Choice or obligation?
Posted by: Dennis Harter in 21st century learner, Curriculum, Ethics, Web 2.0, pedagogyScott McLeod over at Dangerously Irrelevant posted a simple question the other day.
Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children’s future, is it really okay to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction?
The comments that followed this particular question from his readers are worth reading.
Here’s the thing…it isn’t about whether technology must be included in children’s educational experience. It’s actually about the THINKING SKILLS that must be included.
There is no doubt that students live in a digital world. That they behave and think and communicate in digital ways. And including technology in their schooling will probably serve to engage them and make their education seem a little more relevant.
But they need more than that.
21st century learners need thinking skills. They need to be able to find, process, and evaluate information that is EVERYWHERE and always accessible. They need to be able to participate in an interconnected, wired world in effective and responsible ways. They NEED to be taught how to manage/handle/thrive amidst all of the information that is out there and continuing to grow.
Our allegiance to English, Science, Math, and Social Studies as core curricular ideals and the end-all-be-all in student learning needs to make room for higher order thinking, questioning, and information literacy.
I am not arguing for the abolishment of those subjects (though a part of me thinks that they continue to drive our curriculum because they suit us the teachers, rather than our intended audience, the students - see another McLeod question on this). I do think, though, that major curricular overhaul is needed and schools need to consider an overarching or interwoven curricular piece that embraces the skills that 21st century learners need.
Going back to the original question then, No, it’s not okay.
To accomplish these thinking skills and to get students to evaluate and understand the world they are in and the world we will be sending them off into, technology needs to be there. Technology is the tool for information access. Technology is the tool for communication of ideas, thoughts, opinion, fact and bias. Technology is the tool from which a massive discussion of ethical behavior continues to emerge. How can we not include technology in children’s education? If we don’t include it, what are they learning?
Entries (RSS)
May 2nd, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Do I believe that simply requiring teachers to use technology tools will transform teaching and learning? What real change will happen when we put technology tools in the hands of these teachers?
Mr. Total Control
Miss Overly Structured
Mrs. Entertains from the Front of the Class
Mr. Blame the Kids
Miss Low Expectations
Mrs. No Confidence No Control
Mr. Content Is All That Counts
Miss NCLB Scores
Mrs. Teach to the Middle
Miss Boring
Mr. Lack of Preparation
Miss I Don’t Have Time for Questions
Mrs. Because I Said So
Mr. I’m Totally Overwhelmed
It is wishful thinking to believe that technology, by itself, will change the fundamental dynamic that theses teachers bring to their classrooms. We are deluding ourselves if we think traditional professional development will significantly change their beliefs, values, and classroom behaviors.
pete
May 4th, 2007 at 7:40 am
I replied to Pete’s comment on his blog and some great discussion has ensued.
May 10th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
[...] Choice or obligation? [...]
May 11th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Did I write this post? Because it’s pretty much exactly what’s going through my mind right now!
May 11th, 2007 at 10:10 am
So how do we get this message out? Because right now our little blogosphere world is TOO like minded. We preach to the converted.
How do we get people who don’t think like this to consider the ideas?
And then, bigger yet, how do we change something that people are very resistant to change?
May 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I think our challenge might go beyond communicating a message we think is important. Delivering the message does not change the culture… or the types of teachers I listed in earlier comments. The message is just the tip of the iceberg. Change takes more than logic.
pete
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
[...] “To My Children”Educational Discourse ”And We’re Preparing them For?” Thinking Aloud “Choice or [...]
June 3rd, 2007 at 10:46 pm
I think that this blog is very interesting, i’ve never really thought of the primary goal of learning would be to develop ‘thinking skills.’ This is an interesting concept. As a future teacher, we are taught that the purpose of education is so that children are more ‘well rounded’, or so that they can read and write. There is no where in my education where someone has said to me “you need to teach kids how to think.”
However, where my opinion differs with the author is that they think that students need to be exposed to more technology because it helps to improve their thinking stills. Whereas I believe that students need to develop thinking skills because there is so much technology, it’s essential to being successful. They need to be able to comprehend ALL the information that is coming to them on a daily basis in order to get by in this world.
June 3rd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
[...] June 3, 2007 · Filed under Uncategorized http://dharter.edublogs.org/2007/05/02/choice-or-obligation/#comment-24 [...]