Teaching+With+Technology+-+Week+5

Teaching with Technology - Week 5 We have come to the finally week and we must part for the Christmas break, but before we leave I have to share with all of you how astonished and amazed at the awesome video Big Thinkers: Sasha Barab on New-Media Engagement. I really enjoyed listening about how students in  Indiana are provided with the opportunity to work first hand with computer games. Not just everyday common games but the ones that have a purpose. These games get students involved in actual real life situations that are far beyond the level of learning that goes on in classrooms with textbooks and a teacher sitting in front of the class throwing out information that makes no sense to students. Teachers are equipped with old tools that at one time where considered successful but not anymore. Teachers should have social networking tools available such as computers and software programs. Barab mentions that today's teachers dwell on "failure is motivating" and thus are not creating futures for students. The most they expect from students is high scores on test versus challenging and realistic problem solving. Barab last comments suggest that teachers become advocates with parents. Parents are the target to make this happen at our schools. I enjoyed this video a great deal; it made me think of how much damage we are doing to these children and how much work we have ahead in order to properly prepare them for the 21st century. Another reading that I found appealing and relevant to my personal situation was pages 155-64 about students’ effort in Pitler’s book. I find that in my classroom I have to always provide amply motivation and feedback to my students in order for them to feel confident enough to put effort in their work. Pitler provides examples of how “success comes in cans; failure in cant’s” to show students how to reinforce their effort to accomplish their best. His research supports several generalizations which say that not all students believe in effort, and that students learn to operate by belief that effort pays off. Along side these generalizations are two recommendations which state that students should be taught the importance of effort and that they track their effort and achievements. Thus, technology will facilitate the task by using both spreadsheet software and data collection tools. Microsoft Excel is advised to use as a way of tracking student’s efforts and achievements. After using these charts, students are able to set their own goals and objectives and as a result place more effort on studying and getting higher grades. Data collection tools also aid students as they are able to view data not only of themselves but of other groups. As a result, students apply even more effort after they see that other students are faced with the same difficulties. They develop good attitudes towards learning and set their minds to do whatever they want. Students react positively and begin to take responsibility for their won success. Other technology that aids students understanding of the importance of effort is by using surveys and rubrics. Free websites are available for both rubric through RubiStar ( [|http://rubistar.4teachers.org] ) and for surveys through Survey Monkey ( [|www.surveymonkey.com] ).