Hello everyone!
The topics this week have been very thought provoking. Prensky (last weeks reading) suggested that Gen Xer's could multitask, this weeks readings suggest otherwise. This weeks readings suggest that students are not able to multitask. Students studies and grades suffer when they attempt to multitask during class time. I, myself, can attest to that. While sitting in a class one day, I decided to use my laptop to look up some information I needed for another class (among other things). I missed a lot of what the instructor had to say. I thought that I could do both things effectively, but I was mistaken.
Alicia, you mentioned something that I found interesting and right on point. Teachers are overwhelmed with trying to incorporate technology into their lessons. We are told to use technology in our lessons, but not always told "how" to do this effectively. Reeves' article suggests that the research shows that one educational technology program isn't more effective than another. We are not even sure if technology-based instruction is better than traditional instruction overall. With that being said, how can we tell teachers that they "have" to use technology in their lessons? (On a side note, how can we use technology as part of the criteria in the teacher evaluation process?)
I was surprised by the information on the effectiveness (or lack there of) of teaching to multiple intelligences. The research doesn't show that any one way of teaching is more effective than another. I was shocked by this. However, this doesn't mean that teaching to different learning styles is not effective, it just means that it has not been researched/done in a way to show accurate results.
Gwen, in terms of multitasking I am with you. That part of the video from last week where one of the students held up the sign that read "I multitask" made me sad. Yes, surfing the web, listening to music and talking on the phone does qualify as multi tasking but, that is in a personal sense. How does that tie in to the message of the video demanding that they be inspired by technology in the classroom. If they attempted to multitask in that manner and work in some type of academic activity they would not be effective at multi tasking. I have experienced the same instance that you relate. I lose something important along the way if I divert too much of my attention to another task.
ReplyDeleteBecause we are currently in what appears to be a transition period for education, I am hopeful that through the coming years, teachers will be able to have a better insight into how to effectively use technology in their curriculum. My district tries to offer various Professional Development opportunities throughout the year for technology use in the classroom. However, many times these inservices are not departmentally specific.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the evaluation process for teachers and the use of technology, I think that this is whole other set of problems....There are no two instructors that are identical. How can one begin to compare the Performing Arts teacher, the Physical Education teacher, the Science teacher, the Mathematics teacher, or the Computer Graphics teacher. Some classes can have technology incorporated in the curriculum a lot easier than others. Furthermore, some teachers feel a lot more comfortable with technology than others. Does it make an instructor ineffective if they difficulty using technology in their class?