Being Digital Natives, they are different from us, the Digital Immigrants. They think differently, pay attention to different things, basically, they have a different mindset. What is Top of our list is no longer the same as theirs. Just how can we, the Digital Immigrant teachers in these Digital Native students over?
Well, Digital Natives are used to receiving information fast. They like to multi-task and prefer graphics and pictures to texts. They work better with a 'reward' system than the 'punishment' system. They love games and well, aren't exactly into what we call, serious work.
( http://www.slideshare.net/cliotech/engaging-digital-natives )
With that, we can try to figure them out and try to engage them. Social environments are a good way to kickstart. Involve the students in discussions, debates;allow them to go online to do it- blogs, socialbookmarkings, concept map sharing, wikis.. get them to comment on one another, improve themselves as knowledge builds within their community of friends, classmates etc. Design appropriate games to engage them in the more subtle way. Probably make them addicted to educational gaming( thats ideal of course ) . I guess we have to let them know that, although we are digital immigrants, we are not digital ignorant! Students can still communicate with us, via what they are more comfortable with, and we gladly accept their way to work things out.
Digital Natives, are keen on multi-tasking. which is good and bad. We have to teach them concentration- show them how by concentrating, things get worked out better in some cases. They love gaming. But too much gaming may not be good for them either( in the case of game addicts). They have to be disciplined enough to control their wants and desires. These, may not be part of curriculum, but they are essential in the Digital Age. Discipline is common to all generations. Such lessons will not go outdated and are important all the time. They like to participate and interact. We could tap on that and promote creative thinking within the classroom.
I think understanding the likes and dislikes, can allow us to figure how to make them work better. We can use them to work to our benefit( design games? though hat would be difficult) and make them engaged in learning. Forcing the old, traditional way of learning on the Digital Natives is a big no-no. It would work like a turn off switch on them. ( referring to the shirt that says ' i am not ADD, i am just not listening') They would probably regard you as some antique living in this new age. And we do not want to have this gap between us and the students.. We want to be make them open up to us, that way, they would be more willing to learn from us, and enjoy the lessons.. ( well, hopefully)
Work with the Digital Natives, figure out what works with them the best, and use it to our benefits. Use it to educate them. Makes our job easier and make lessons and learning more engaging.
On a side note, i found this cool E-tool- Slideshare.net
Probably Dr Tan has already found it, but, well.. Its new to me! ahahaaa. and the link above is an example of a ppt slide being shared- gained lots of insight from that powerpoint. It was 113 slides long! like, Wow.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
As i take a peek into the Future..
Well, i think education is almost married to technology in the future. With more games, internet, TV, blogs, online information etc, it is not difficult to see exactly why this will become the case. In order to get the attention of these Digital Natives, educators just got to tap on something the students like, and well, turn it around and use it to their own benefits.
Teaching will be fast paced, and focused. You get the things you want to teach, and you deliver. The delivery, thought, will have to be engaging to the digital natives, and somehow 'fit' their way of learning . Learning becomes all round the clock- you see something that spurs your curiosity, snap it and ask someone or anyone. Learning becomes interactive, becomes on-the-go.Learning becomes game based too. It evolves to become fun, interactive, engaging and making students want more. Teaching however, may also require more out of the teachers, not only knowledge, but all the skills attached to this job in the future.
In my opinion, NIE is doing just that. with IT courses, communication courses all hand in hand with pedagogical courses, it all seems like the armour, the weapon, the sheild that we need to fight in the future battlegrounds of education. The COTF also gives us a peek into how the world around us may evolve into, how things can change, it works almost like fortune telling. As an aspiring teacher, i think it is important for me to abandon all the restrictive thoughts i have about teaching. Being brought up in an education system that is half 'traditional' and half 'modern'. TO elaborate more, it is to say that in the lower levels of education, i was taught to do the right thing, absorb knowledge, be good with the curriculum, score well in exams.. then it changes to start questioning, be creative and innovation, learn beyond the classroom...
I must be convinced, and convince myself that the old ways will not work anymore. Looking at the young kids round me- cousins, friends, nieces, nephews; they are not going to be any smiliar to me. Our thinking will be different, and we are different. To win them over, i have to change what i thought i could/should do. BE compatible with them. ( i just cannot stop at windows vista when they are going on to windows seven, HAHA )
Link to my anchor of thought? or something like that. kinda interesting, lol.
http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/articles/teched.html
Teaching will be fast paced, and focused. You get the things you want to teach, and you deliver. The delivery, thought, will have to be engaging to the digital natives, and somehow 'fit' their way of learning . Learning becomes all round the clock- you see something that spurs your curiosity, snap it and ask someone or anyone. Learning becomes interactive, becomes on-the-go.Learning becomes game based too. It evolves to become fun, interactive, engaging and making students want more. Teaching however, may also require more out of the teachers, not only knowledge, but all the skills attached to this job in the future.
In my opinion, NIE is doing just that. with IT courses, communication courses all hand in hand with pedagogical courses, it all seems like the armour, the weapon, the sheild that we need to fight in the future battlegrounds of education. The COTF also gives us a peek into how the world around us may evolve into, how things can change, it works almost like fortune telling. As an aspiring teacher, i think it is important for me to abandon all the restrictive thoughts i have about teaching. Being brought up in an education system that is half 'traditional' and half 'modern'. TO elaborate more, it is to say that in the lower levels of education, i was taught to do the right thing, absorb knowledge, be good with the curriculum, score well in exams.. then it changes to start questioning, be creative and innovation, learn beyond the classroom...
I must be convinced, and convince myself that the old ways will not work anymore. Looking at the young kids round me- cousins, friends, nieces, nephews; they are not going to be any smiliar to me. Our thinking will be different, and we are different. To win them over, i have to change what i thought i could/should do. BE compatible with them. ( i just cannot stop at windows vista when they are going on to windows seven, HAHA )
Link to my anchor of thought? or something like that. kinda interesting, lol.
http://www.wiu.edu/thecenter/articles/teched.html
COTF, 2015 and Marc Prensky
Actually, it has been some time since i've visited the Classroom Of The Future( COTF). But lets fret not and well, see what i can remember from the 'out-of-the-world' experience? Ha.
COTF was totally refreshing. especiailly so when its visited right after AED 104. ( Okay thats for me only.) We were given some tablet pc "thing" right at first. then we go into the future..
The first station was the 'Starbucks'. The communicative table was great. Not only did it do away with the going up front to look at the menu and placing orders, you just touch the screen of the pc, which can be connected to the table's pc and you just order. like wow. you can even get messages from people across the globe like, whenever the time.
Go on to this future lab, you get things done like , snap! you get information of bacteria, hold video calls and such. tech savvy people, they really thrive there. i think we all become tech savvy in that time? hmmm.
I really like the MRT? haha, besides the fact that there is no longer seats! like goodness, we have tired legs still? but the advertisements you find on board is just cool. you can download the music or vouchers or clips from the boards- all you need is to get interested, and wave. Awesome. Talk about loooong rides home, anyone?
The home was not so good. My view is that the work gets to you right at your doorstep, you have no way to run. But i guess thats the way it is in future? It is so accessible you can forget about breaks. yikes
The classroom is, well nice. attendance taking becomes easy and, almost foolproof- since you do not need to conscientiuosly sign in when you turn up for classes, it detects you. woah. the large area available to post things up create this really educational environment. But, is it too distracting? Well, i feel almost overwhelmed at the technology and the information thats presented literally around me. the Quizes are fun though. really good way to do lessons. but hopefully the teaching is as interesting and engaging?
COTF seems to fit into 2015 perfectly. well you have that tablet pc thing for one..
it is really convenient to just snap pictures as and when you need to, and get information about it, or call on the Prof in school and just well, ASK! how convenient. Not too good for the Prof ( or us in the future) since you become 24/7 on the go. ahahaha. scary thoughts. everything else is so high tech, i sometimes i wonder if we would get used to that? hmmm, imagine such a great leap for the older generation ( including us- as in me ). Then, it seems like we are more than Digital Natives, we are like, HIGH TECH ONLY natives.
Marc Prensky brought up several thinking points for me. The part where Brain cells are replenished- man was i enlightened. now i sound like i am some ignorant girl passing her time just bumming. Neuroplasticity is truly something i have never heard of. They seem to answer the question of ' will we get used to it?' pretty well. We would. and we will, eventually. Malleability of the brain too. It makes us realise that experiences do alter our brains in some way, or another- it makes us totally different, in fact.Attention span of the Digital Natives- also a highly controversial topic, has now a solid, grounded arguement. The attention span does not change at all! the willingness did all that. Now it all makes sense. Don't we all enjoy doing what we like and can spend 'all the time in the world' doing it? It is the same with education. Digital Natives are brought up surrounded with video games, TV programmes, easy access to online/internet information etc. Binding them to their seats with dry boring lectures and lessons would just make them switch off and absorb nothing at all. We now clearly see the need to teach the Difgital Natives using a method they are easily engaged in, and as Prensky said, their native language. Only then would it be fruitful in the attempts to educate the new generation.
COTF was totally refreshing. especiailly so when its visited right after AED 104. ( Okay thats for me only.) We were given some tablet pc "thing" right at first. then we go into the future..
The first station was the 'Starbucks'. The communicative table was great. Not only did it do away with the going up front to look at the menu and placing orders, you just touch the screen of the pc, which can be connected to the table's pc and you just order. like wow. you can even get messages from people across the globe like, whenever the time.
Go on to this future lab, you get things done like , snap! you get information of bacteria, hold video calls and such. tech savvy people, they really thrive there. i think we all become tech savvy in that time? hmmm.
I really like the MRT? haha, besides the fact that there is no longer seats! like goodness, we have tired legs still? but the advertisements you find on board is just cool. you can download the music or vouchers or clips from the boards- all you need is to get interested, and wave. Awesome. Talk about loooong rides home, anyone?
The home was not so good. My view is that the work gets to you right at your doorstep, you have no way to run. But i guess thats the way it is in future? It is so accessible you can forget about breaks. yikes
The classroom is, well nice. attendance taking becomes easy and, almost foolproof- since you do not need to conscientiuosly sign in when you turn up for classes, it detects you. woah. the large area available to post things up create this really educational environment. But, is it too distracting? Well, i feel almost overwhelmed at the technology and the information thats presented literally around me. the Quizes are fun though. really good way to do lessons. but hopefully the teaching is as interesting and engaging?
COTF seems to fit into 2015 perfectly. well you have that tablet pc thing for one..
it is really convenient to just snap pictures as and when you need to, and get information about it, or call on the Prof in school and just well, ASK! how convenient. Not too good for the Prof ( or us in the future) since you become 24/7 on the go. ahahaha. scary thoughts. everything else is so high tech, i sometimes i wonder if we would get used to that? hmmm, imagine such a great leap for the older generation ( including us- as in me ). Then, it seems like we are more than Digital Natives, we are like, HIGH TECH ONLY natives.
Marc Prensky brought up several thinking points for me. The part where Brain cells are replenished- man was i enlightened. now i sound like i am some ignorant girl passing her time just bumming. Neuroplasticity is truly something i have never heard of. They seem to answer the question of ' will we get used to it?' pretty well. We would. and we will, eventually. Malleability of the brain too. It makes us realise that experiences do alter our brains in some way, or another- it makes us totally different, in fact.Attention span of the Digital Natives- also a highly controversial topic, has now a solid, grounded arguement. The attention span does not change at all! the willingness did all that. Now it all makes sense. Don't we all enjoy doing what we like and can spend 'all the time in the world' doing it? It is the same with education. Digital Natives are brought up surrounded with video games, TV programmes, easy access to online/internet information etc. Binding them to their seats with dry boring lectures and lessons would just make them switch off and absorb nothing at all. We now clearly see the need to teach the Difgital Natives using a method they are easily engaged in, and as Prensky said, their native language. Only then would it be fruitful in the attempts to educate the new generation.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
More to Second Life?
Went on to lookout for more videos or even articles supporting the use of Second Life for the use of education. I think the one which was rather interesting to me was the on on BBC News, regarding a school in Middlesbrough (Acklam Grange).
Here's a link( i cant seem to embed it..)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7869000/7869303.stm
Well, it seems that Second Life can be integrated into learning very well. This seems to act like a support to what the previous video embedded has mentioned, about how Second Life could be used in education. Only this, i think, proved that even non-tertiary ( as in lower level ) students can make use of Second Life as an education source and learn more through 'hands-on' experiences in the virtual world created by their teachers. (Virtual treasure hunt, entering cells...)
I have yet to find out about any Singaporean campus in Second Life, but according to Dr Tan, there is a Second NIE. Completely and totally interesting
Here's a link( i cant seem to embed it..)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/technology/newsid_7869000/7869303.stm
Well, it seems that Second Life can be integrated into learning very well. This seems to act like a support to what the previous video embedded has mentioned, about how Second Life could be used in education. Only this, i think, proved that even non-tertiary ( as in lower level ) students can make use of Second Life as an education source and learn more through 'hands-on' experiences in the virtual world created by their teachers. (Virtual treasure hunt, entering cells...)
I have yet to find out about any Singaporean campus in Second Life, but according to Dr Tan, there is a Second NIE. Completely and totally interesting
Second Life
Here's one useful Video found on Youtube about the uses of Second Life. It explores the education possibilities Second Life offers to students of our generation. Provokes thinking..
Url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMGR9q43dag
I can now understand better why and how Second Life can be useful in Education. However, most of the educational possibilities mentioned in the Video are valid for older students, students in the tertiary level. IT includes learning in Business/Finance, Art and Design, Sciences... But is it really applicable in a lower level, like what my future students would be in- Primary level. Will primary students be mature enough to make use instead of abusing the uses of Second Life?
Well. i guess i need more learning with regards to Second Life. There must be some other ways~
Url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMGR9q43dag
I can now understand better why and how Second Life can be useful in Education. However, most of the educational possibilities mentioned in the Video are valid for older students, students in the tertiary level. IT includes learning in Business/Finance, Art and Design, Sciences... But is it really applicable in a lower level, like what my future students would be in- Primary level. Will primary students be mature enough to make use instead of abusing the uses of Second Life?
Well. i guess i need more learning with regards to Second Life. There must be some other ways~
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Demonstrations, and such..
Demonstration was kinda fun. Not the ' wow, this is interesting i'm enjoying it to the fullest' fun, but the kind of, thrilled and anxious then pulling it over kinda fun. ha ha.
Well i do hope that Blogging becomes a big thing in motivating students and teachers to wite. Oh, to Blog i mean. I was reading one of the related Links on Dr Tan's blog. The one on 'Blogs as reflective writing tools - M's Primary Weblog'. It was really interesting. It was almost exactly what i feel about blogs and educational blogging! And, besides just reflection, blogging also offers students to learn effectively, as they can now go home, digest the information thrown at them, and blog about it. Alright, maybe it is yet another form of reflection, but. I just think blogging is powerful.
Most importantly, like the previous stated blog i visited( M's primary weblog) i think blogging really creates an open platform for students to write and express themselves, to a whole world of an audience. Yes, the idea of having many people reading what you have got to say is just, exciting. Especially in my area of specialisation- Chinese language and literature, it is so very important to interest and motivate students to use the language. Singaporean students these days often communicate in English, as a result, many are prone to neglect their second language- mother tongue. With such a platform, it is more engaging a form of writing than just the essays and reports in class. Hopefully they will gain an interest or at the very least, not have a 'phobia' in second language?
That aside, we were introduced to Second Life. It is this virtual world that is created for fun? Well, since it is not a game, but like a second life you are leading, only in a virtual space. Good thing there is 2 categories to it- the 13-17 years old [ or something like that ] and the 21 and above category. Lets just say we wouldnt want our younger generation to be exposed to potentially harmful contents.
Personally, i do not really agree with such virtual world. It is not really 'right'. Especially for the younger ones, should they be so absorbed into the game and be unable to differentiate it from real life... Oh that IS disastrous. People are generally also more concerned with how they look or specifically how their avatars look since they can now alter how it is themselves, to their liking, as and when. They start to 'buy' clothes, go for 'hair treatment', 'plastic surgery(changing their looks/features)' etc. There are just about as many or even more things people can do in the virtual worlds than in real life! Could it lead to materialism? Or discrimination?
Big words aren't they, hmmm...
Maybe i need to understand and know more about how such virtual world/lives can aid in learning and teaching.
Looking forward to more Second Life. Now this is going to be interesting..
Well i do hope that Blogging becomes a big thing in motivating students and teachers to wite. Oh, to Blog i mean. I was reading one of the related Links on Dr Tan's blog. The one on 'Blogs as reflective writing tools - M's Primary Weblog'. It was really interesting. It was almost exactly what i feel about blogs and educational blogging! And, besides just reflection, blogging also offers students to learn effectively, as they can now go home, digest the information thrown at them, and blog about it. Alright, maybe it is yet another form of reflection, but. I just think blogging is powerful.
Most importantly, like the previous stated blog i visited( M's primary weblog) i think blogging really creates an open platform for students to write and express themselves, to a whole world of an audience. Yes, the idea of having many people reading what you have got to say is just, exciting. Especially in my area of specialisation- Chinese language and literature, it is so very important to interest and motivate students to use the language. Singaporean students these days often communicate in English, as a result, many are prone to neglect their second language- mother tongue. With such a platform, it is more engaging a form of writing than just the essays and reports in class. Hopefully they will gain an interest or at the very least, not have a 'phobia' in second language?
That aside, we were introduced to Second Life. It is this virtual world that is created for fun? Well, since it is not a game, but like a second life you are leading, only in a virtual space. Good thing there is 2 categories to it- the 13-17 years old [ or something like that ] and the 21 and above category. Lets just say we wouldnt want our younger generation to be exposed to potentially harmful contents.
Personally, i do not really agree with such virtual world. It is not really 'right'. Especially for the younger ones, should they be so absorbed into the game and be unable to differentiate it from real life... Oh that IS disastrous. People are generally also more concerned with how they look or specifically how their avatars look since they can now alter how it is themselves, to their liking, as and when. They start to 'buy' clothes, go for 'hair treatment', 'plastic surgery(changing their looks/features)' etc. There are just about as many or even more things people can do in the virtual worlds than in real life! Could it lead to materialism? Or discrimination?
Big words aren't they, hmmm...
Maybe i need to understand and know more about how such virtual world/lives can aid in learning and teaching.
Looking forward to more Second Life. Now this is going to be interesting..
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Educational Gaming, again
How do i find educational gaming? Oh it was one hell of a good time! But did i learn something out of it? well.. i think, i think i maybe did.
Educational gaming has its trick- that is it 'teaches' you unconsciously, often you only realise when you turn back and reflect about it. Sometimes, it just changes your perception of things without warning. It affects one quietly and in a subtle manner such that it might just go unnoticed.
What a powerful teaching tool it is. Its not all fun to gaming. See, educational gaming is not 'good' or 'bad', its just a powerful tool that is so very useful if tapped on correctly and effectively. It teaches the 'hidden curriculum' that is to be taught in the daily lessons in school, maybe even more effectively.
For example, prosocial games may let students learn more about how to communicate with people appropriately and be more sociable. Other games could allow students to develop quick thinking and problem solving skills so that they may solve any problems which come their weay in real life. These are valuable lessons which could achieve results, even better ones, when the teaching is done via a game. Games are also a way to let the students handle setbacks in life, without the actual cruel scenarios. Losing the game or simply not able to achieve their goals are possible and real setbacks people face in life- losing and falling short.
But i guess what makes educational gaming eventually kind of dangerous is the level of diffculty to link the learning to the gaming, and how to clearly and effectively conduct a gaming session with the students- how to draw the line between learning while gaming and just plain playing for the fun of it. Students may just never realise how they link.
There were many researches about how powerful gaming could be, or facts about the actual outcomes of gaming. Yet indeed it is still rare to see game consoles in the classroom. Either a revolution in education is coming, or we are just too happy with covnentional education methods.
Educational gaming has its trick- that is it 'teaches' you unconsciously, often you only realise when you turn back and reflect about it. Sometimes, it just changes your perception of things without warning. It affects one quietly and in a subtle manner such that it might just go unnoticed.
What a powerful teaching tool it is. Its not all fun to gaming. See, educational gaming is not 'good' or 'bad', its just a powerful tool that is so very useful if tapped on correctly and effectively. It teaches the 'hidden curriculum' that is to be taught in the daily lessons in school, maybe even more effectively.
For example, prosocial games may let students learn more about how to communicate with people appropriately and be more sociable. Other games could allow students to develop quick thinking and problem solving skills so that they may solve any problems which come their weay in real life. These are valuable lessons which could achieve results, even better ones, when the teaching is done via a game. Games are also a way to let the students handle setbacks in life, without the actual cruel scenarios. Losing the game or simply not able to achieve their goals are possible and real setbacks people face in life- losing and falling short.
But i guess what makes educational gaming eventually kind of dangerous is the level of diffculty to link the learning to the gaming, and how to clearly and effectively conduct a gaming session with the students- how to draw the line between learning while gaming and just plain playing for the fun of it. Students may just never realise how they link.
There were many researches about how powerful gaming could be, or facts about the actual outcomes of gaming. Yet indeed it is still rare to see game consoles in the classroom. Either a revolution in education is coming, or we are just too happy with covnentional education methods.
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