T and T A15 Monday Oct 19, 2009

"Brenno also relayed the story of one of his colleagues asking a female college student what she was listening to while they waited at an airport. The student responded by asking, "Which ear?"
She had two mp3 players. One contained one of her science lectures, while the other contained music. (Riedel 2) A 21st century version of turning on your stereo while you study." (Riedel)  Thanks to Drew for finding this!

Final Exam preview

Digital Students at Analog Schools Video - thanks Lindsay

Copyright - Mandy's slides (from Public Domain on)


Creative Commons video ----- (Thanks Caroline)

Discussion groups - If DN are truly different and we must modify our teaching to accommodate them, what do we have to offer them from what we have done in schools previously??? In other words, don't throw the baby out with the bath water!

• What should we KEEP, and teach the value of, to DN? 
• What were your best teachers' practices? 
• Could they be enhanced by technology or should they be retained as is?

KEEP --- Essays, teachers, learning, debates, expression of ideas, listening skills, ability to connect, flexibility, engagement, humor, decency, subject knowledge, well-roundedness, respect

DROP --- standardized assessment, negativity, straight lecturing, high-weighted tests

Using Comics in the Classroom

Thanks to Vanessa for this:

Marilee Sprenger developed seven strategies for teachers to try when they feel
like they can’t keep up to their technologically advanced students. 

• Provide refection time. Sprenger states it is important to give your students time to reflect after they have been researching on the internet for a while. This allows the students’ time to absorb the information allowing the students to use different parts of their brain which in turn gives overworked areas
  some rest.
  
• Disarm them. Have your students put away their devices for a short period of time in your class. This can allow them to practice listening to one person at a time.
  
• Let them teach. Digital Natives are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to technology. Allow
  them to show off what they know; it can be a lesson for other students as well as yourself.
• Use interactive white boards.
  Since Digital Natives are used to communicating to the world through a screen use it in your class room. It can allow you to bring in PowerPoint presentations and videos.
  
• Build emotional literacy.
  When students immerse themselves into technology they start to lose social skills. It inhibits their ability to read facial cues and body language. By taking a few minutes each day to ask students how they are feeling teachers can help students. Teachers should also help students become aware of others feelings.
  
• Teach Mindfulness.
  By doing meditation techniques teachers can help lower stress levels and increase attention for their students.
  
• Encourage storytelling. Allow your students to tell stories about all the information they have learned using technology (37-39).