In this video, the Professor Mr. Dancelot is teaching a social dance class in an auditorium seating classroom and reading from a powerpoint. Mr. Dancealot does demonstrate dance moves, but the students can not see because he is behind a podium. Also, when a student stands up and tries to do a dance step himself, Mr. Dancealot doesn't allow him to do so. Then, Mr. Dancealot expects the students who have been taught through notes in class, to dance in the ballroom for their final grade. Of course the students do not really know how to partner dance because they were never taught by actually physically dancing with a partner. The central message to this video is that students can not learn to do something on paper that they never get the chance to physically do, such as this dance class. Since the students never practiced with one another they were not ready for the final exam. Mr. Dancealot should have had class in the ballroom dance room so the students could pair up and learn the dance steps through physically dancing. In the end of the video, the students are dancing for their final and most everyone has their notebooks in their hands. This is how I think the author shows his case for the conclusion. The author is saying that students have to practice hands-on to learn. I agree with the author because students learn better with hands-on instruction rather than just reading a powerpoint.
Teaching in the 21st Century
In this video by Kevin Roberts, says the big picture question is "What does it mean to teach in the 21st Century?" He says that teachers are not the main source of knowledge the students learn, but that the teachers are the filters. Roberts emphasizes that entertainment is not engagement. For example, engagement is for learning and entertainment is for enjoyment. I think that Roberts really hits the point that teaching is changing and we as teachers need to utilize every 21st century tool that we can to better teach our students. Roberts says that students can find information whenever, whenever, and however and this is so right. Google is a click away. But teachers are the ones that teach the students HOW to navigate the information and HOW to accurately use the resources they find. Sure, there are so many sources out there to be used and analyzed, but students would not know what to do with the sources if someone [the teacher] did not help them learn to organize that data. I think that what Roberts says does affect me as an educator. I want to use every tool I can in our technologically based world to better teach my students so they will learn the most effective ways. As an educator, I will have to constantly collaborate and make changes to keep up with 21st Century teaching.
The Networked Student
In this video by Wendy Dexler, she wants the viewers to understand how important it is for students to build their network of many diverse connections and ties. The student learns how to blog, how to search for research, how to use that information he has found, and how to contact other people and learn from them. Also, the author, Wendy Dexler, is making it clear that it is important for students to be connected in their network and always keeping and finding new contacts to help them grow and succeed in everything they do. The student needs the teacher because she teaches the students how to keep all of their networking information organized, she is also his guidance, and she teaches him how to take advantage of learning opportunities throughout his life. I think that it is a great idea for a student to build a network because overtime the network will grow with so many connecting contacts and they will be able to use this network for anything they need to further their education and future reference.
Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts
In this video, Vicki Davis, an IT director, is teaching at a very small school in rural Georgia. She makes her students become involved in so many different technology based learning techniques so that the students are exposed to learning new things around the world in a hands-on way. Davis explains that the students become so connected to learning new information around the world, which I think is a great way for students to be involved. Davis's thesis is about empowering the students and addressing that teacher is their guidance to learning. I totally agree with the way Davis is incorporating technology so effectively and hands-on for the students to use not only for her class, but for the rest of their lives.
Who's ahead in the Learning Race
In this video by Dr. Strange, it is obvious that elementary students of Baldwin County are ahead of undergraduate and graduate students in the "Learning Race." In this video the elementary students are using their MacBooks like it is a piece of cake. Young minds are like sponges and they absorb so much information and they can learn so much. On tools such as iMovie, I may need one of those elementary students to teach me how to navigate it! I think it is great that Baldwin County elementary schools are now able to provide their students with MacBook computers because it helps close the gap between technology and learning. With today's fast pace society, where technology is advancing daily, it is important that our students learn to adapt and grow as the technological society does the same.
Flipping the Classroom
In this video, Ms. Munafo explains what "Flipping the Classroom" is and its many advantages she hopes to bring with math in her class. I have actually never heard of flipping the classroom so it is new to me. I think that this approach would most defiantly be useful to me as a teacher for certain subjects because it gives the student the opportunity to learn the curriculum ahead of time. This way in class learning will be at a higher level and as a teacher I wouldn't spend too much time with instruction. I think that with any new technique there are pros and cons, but as a teacher I would at least give it a try and see if my students benefit from it.
Bringing the Locker Room into the Classroom
This article written by Craig N. Owens was from a very interesting point of view. I have never thought about "bringing the locker room into the classroom" so to speak. From my understanding, this technique provides the opportunity for questions and discussion amongst the students and the teacher. I would use this technique for the students to be able to share questions and concerns they have with the class through discussion and it makes learning fun when everyone in the classroom is engaged. Being engaged in the classroom is like being in a conversation that you are constantly learning from. The article says that the "coaching in the classroom" techniques is not exactly where they want it to be so that as teachers we learn from it, but there are high hopes to see where this program leads.
Source: Photo By Fractus Learning
I enjoyed reading your post and seeing how you applied every video to your classroom. I also love the idea of flipping a classroom because it gives everyone a head start. I had never heard of this, but like you, I found it very interesting and saw the benefits to students and teachers. What kind of cons you see with this technique, and do they outweigh the pros? To me, this would benefit more than harm a classroom simply because students have a heads up and can ask questions the next day. The teacher doesn't skip over the lesson, but she no longer has to rush through the lesson to get to other material.
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Overall, good job.
It looks like you are viewing some thought provoking videos as part of your course work. 21st century resources and ways of thinking require that we change how we teach in the classroom. Facts, figures and instant recall is no longer important - the ability to find, assess and use information is. Using technology as a tool (not only a toy) is a vital part of our classrooms. Teachers also need to be using that technology - being willing to constantly learn how to use new applications, or old ones in a new way. If we want networked students, we also need networked teachers. And since I am a kindergarten teacher, I am going to put in a plug for good old fashioned play. To quote a teacher I greatly admire: if you don't have a sandbox, you don't need an iPad.
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