Wow, I was amazed when I read Scott McLeod's article from the Huffington Post poste d on November 26, 2010.
It is like reading a manuscript of what is wrong with my and many other schools and their use of technology. Lets take a more dissected look at his 10 points.
If we were really serious about educational technology, we would... [Here are 10 to get you started.]
- Show students how to edit their privacy settings and use groups in Facebook instead of banning online social networks because they're "dangerous" and/or "frivolous";
This is a great idea! Our students spend hours on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Shouldn't we as educators treat this technology as a teachable moment? Do we even know if parents are educating their kids on the possible problems with privacy settings? How about schools poll parents (survey monkey would be a great resource) on what they know and if and how they educate their children on internet safety? Even further, ask them about web caming, sexting, skyping and chat roulette. Shouldn't we, as 'educators' in the know treat the internet as a teachable tool?
- Teach students to understand and contribute to the online information commons rather than just saying noto Wikipedia;
Another great point! At home, students use wikipedia all the time. I have heard students say "I will just do the project at home because nothing is blocked from my access." Wikipedia should be taught as a valuable tool for Web 2.0. Many schools (mine included) completely block access for all (including teachers). What student would not beam with pride at contributing (other than Youtube of course) to the digital landscape.
- Put a robust digital learning device into every student's hands (or let them bring and use their own) instead of pretending that we live in a pencil, notebook paper, and ring binder world;
Our school of 400 kids has two computer labs of 24 computers, 1 with 6, and the library has 22 (total of 76, I am excluding teacher computers). That means that 19% of students have access to a computer at once. If I could poll the students, I would estimate that well over 70% have access to the internet through their smart phones, ipods, or another device. Furthermore, I would estimate that nearly 100% have a computer (or gaming system) at home that has internet access. Why do we limit the technology that the students use everywhere but at school. Does learning at school require us to drop everything at the door and learn with paper and pencil? Universities and private schools are already using these technologies, why can't we use them?
- Integrate digital learning and teaching tools into subject-specific pre-service methods courses rather than marginalizing instructional technology as a separate course;
No-brainer! As an art teacher, I have been using integration since my first day teaching. The technology teacher of today should be training faculty as well as children. They should have access to up-to-date web 2.0 technology and help guide teachers, admin, parents, students, and the community on how to use Web 2.0 to advance learning at school and at home.
- Understand the true risk of students encountering online predators and make policy accordinglyinstead of succumbing to scare tactics by the media, politicians, law enforcement, computer security vendors, and others;
Agreed! Have students learn what really can happen through the use of the local police, state police, and possible even federal resources.
- Find out the exact percentage of our schools' families that don't have broadband Internet access at home rather than treating the amorphous 'digital divide' as a reason not to assign any homework that involves use of the Internet;
As above, this could happen through a survey of students and parents. At our school, there is a homework club after school where students have access to the internet, as well as free internet access at the Gilford Public Library.
- Treat seriously and own personallythe task of becoming proficient with the digital tools that are transforming everything instead of nonchalantly chuckling about how little we as educators know about computers;
What we do not teach the kids or allow them access to at school they will learn on their own. A day could soon arrive where students start to feel that school is irrelevant because the school does not allow or educate them of the full possibility of the Web 2.0. It is already happening as students who are home schooled or in college take a number of online courses (such as this one!).
- Recognize the power and potential (and limitations) of online learning rather than blithely assuming that it can't be as good as face-to-face instruction;
It is recognized, but not by enough forward thinking educators and administrators. I hope as our new Superintendent starts next year, he will see the value of allowing greater access to educators and students, and stop ignoring the educational technology elephant in the room. Face to face still has its place in education and always will. But couldn't this face to face happen over the internet? Blogging and skyping can easily become tools to educators and students.
- Tap into and utilize the technological interest and knowledge of students instead of pretending that they have nothing to contribute;
Yes, allow them access and teach them to contribute and they will not only learn, but could then start to teach each other and others all over the world through the internet.
- Better educate and train school administrators rather than continuing to turn out new leaders that know virtually nothing about creating, facilitating, and/or sustaining 21st century learning environments;
Bravo! Teach the administrators how to allow teachers to do their jobs by teaching using the internet! What a brilliant idea!
Yours,
Aaron
Excerpted from:
Scott McLeod
Associate Professor & Director,
CASTLE, Iowa State University
Posted: November 26, 2010 02:17 PM
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