BLOG POST 2

What will teaching in the 21st Century be Like?

1. The central message of the video, "Mr. Dancealot" , was that just because you know information does not mean that you are a teacher. The author makes the case for this conclusion by demonstrating a teacher without teaching skills. In the video, you can see a teacher that knows what he is talking about, but he does not have experience with delivering information. You can see that the students are confused, the teacher is not standing in the correct position in order for the students to see what he is doing, and their is not any teacher-student interaction. I agree with the author's conclusion because teaching skills are needed in order for students to understand the information given. There is more to teaching than giving information. A teacher must be creative with their delivery, because one method of teaching may not satisfy all of your students.

2. After viewing the video, "Teaching In the 21st Century" , I believe that Roberts thinks that teaching in the 21st Century means to allow students to research and learn from self-study instead of learning from given information (hard facts). Teaching in the 21st Century will involve a lot more technology than in the pass years of education. Roberts believes that students should be taught to apply, analyze, evaluate, and create (I agree). As a future educator, I believe I will be affected by the new teaching method, but not in a horrible way. I believe teaching with technology will make teaching fun and allow me to interact with my students more and help me teach multiple subjects and/or skills with one assignment. With technology (especially internet and computers) students will learn how to research materials and write about them. This sounds like a great way to create an easy history and english project.

3. After watching the video,"The Networked Student" , I believe being a network student is a great way to learn. It teaches you how to research information, network with other people across the world (which increases communication skills), enhance study skills, enhance reading skills and vocabulary, and builds self-sufficient skills. I believe that teaching your students how to think and research on their own prepares them for life. When you teach your student how to be independent researchers then learning becomes easier than memorizing facts. If you teach your student how to be independent then wouldn't s/he be successful at time management (which could help s/he keep a job and pay his or her bills on time)? Being a network student will be time consuming, but the growth and learning experience is priceless.

4. The thesis of Vicki Davis' video, "Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts" , is teaching your students how to learn. In response to that statement, I think that it is a good strategy. As a student, I can say that it seems that I learn easier when I research information on my own verses memorizing facts. It is a fun experience, especially when I am working with other students and learning from them as well. Teaching students to research information and do things on their own, helps them be better students.

5. Who's Ahead in the Learning Race? After watching this video, It seems that the elementary school children are ahead as far as using technology more than college students. I understand the point that Dr. Strange is making, but I do not believe that using technology more makes elementary school children ahead of the learning race. Just because they are using technology more than college students does not mean that they know more than college students. College students are receiving an education just like elementary students. The skills that they gain by using technology (such as writing skills, social skills, and research skills) college students have already gained or are gaining (the only difference is that we have gained skills by using pencil and paper more than technology).

6. After watching the video, "Flipping the Classroom" , I asked myself, "Is flipping a classroom new to me?" The answer to this question is no. I remember completing homework assignments that include material that I learned that day and some material that I did not recognize (it would be a bonus problem). The next day, the teacher would go over the homework and the bonus problem (which introduced us to the new material that we would learn that day.) I believe that this method will be useful as a teacher because it helps the students learn how to become thinkers and enthusiastic about what they are learning. If I include a few new problems on their homework assignment for bonus points, then I can expect some students to attempt the problem for extra points (which builds enthusiasm and competitive skills).

7. After reading, "Bring the Locker Room into the Classroom", I decided that teaching students to be analytical and critical thinkers is a great way to teach. I like the story about how the coach embedded problem-solving skills with in the players. The team analyzed the other team and figured out how the could use their strengths to conquer the other team's weakness. Teaching students to be problem-solvers is a good teaching strategy because it helps the students become good-decision makers and it teaches them how to make good decisions.