Blog Post 2

What will teaching in the 21st Century be like? Let's find out!

1. Mr. Dancealot's dance class failed to learn anything the entire semester because they had no dance experience at any time. They could not learn how to dance simply from watching Powerpoint slides.
The author tries to make the point that lecturing will not teach students things that will be done in real-life situations. 

There are too many teachers who are solely lecture based, which in some situations is not the best way for students to learn. The picture above shows students falling asleep in class during lecture. The belief that hands-on experience is one of the best ways to learn is the main point, and I completely agree with this point. Learning through practice is one of the easiest ways to memorize a series of steps. For example, learning CPR takes practice with the body as well as the mind. Math is also another hands-on class. In my opinion, doing practice problems is the only way to memorize math.


2. Real-life problem solving takes hands-on skills, not how students are taught today.

• We need to rethink the tools we use and the types of problems we ask students to solve 
• technology tools are tempting, but using them the right way will not cause negative behavior in classrooms 

• any lesson you create has to be relevant, challenging, engaging 
• entertainment vs. engagement 
• engagement can be fun and educational 
• entertainment takes no skill

The video challenges us to research, practice, learn, then educate our students using tools that will help them in situations that being in a classroom would not. The technology used for entertainment could be used to educate students by engaging them during school, and entertain them by night. Why not use the tools acquired in this technology for educational needs? 

This technology would not benefit my area of education as much as some other courses because I am in Physical Education. However, new technology such as the testing graduates with South Alabama's Physical Therapy Department use to test ACL strength is a great way to incorporate technological programs in athletics. Programs and research like this developing into PE curriculums would definitely introduce this type of technology that Roberts suggests will prevail in education in the 21st Century. 

Taken from South Alabama's Physical Therapy testing lab. These are used in isometric ACL testing and are picked up by sensors and send information about the athlete's movements into the computer program.

3. Honestly, this video seems to put into perspective what 21st Century education is becoming, and I agree that this is how it should be. Building your own set of skills and connections with other people will get you where you need to be in today's society. In the changing way society uses technology, your network can even be spread around the world and could even change the way the rest of the world solves its problems and build networks of their own. 

Teachers are the key building block of this step because they help students with learning the ways of these networks and how to form connections and communicate with people everywhere. They teach students right and wrong, and what to do/what not to do. If they do not possess the expertise to give the student proper information, they have their own connections with the real experts. Teachers are the reason education can change, but whether current teachers agree with accelerating education in this way is the question.

4. Basically, Vicki Davis argues that not all students can succeed using just paper and pencil. She believes that giving students the power to work and teach one another makes the classroom a better learning environment. She wants them to be comfortable using any type of program and technology She gives them the opportunity to connect with students all over the world giving them the power to be independent in their connections. 

I do agree with Davis' point that students should be given the power to work with other students all over the world, but what they do with this power is questionable. Starting students at a younger age using technology has to be the way to go about this freedom. If they are used to technology in the classroom in their younger years, I believe they would use the technology how teachers would like when the time comes to connect with students from around the world. I think abuse of power would occur less if this method is applied sooner than later.

5. Clearly, elementary schools are ahead in the learning race. I was completely unaware that this technology was available for students in elementary education, so I am considering changing the last comments I made about Vicki Davis' students abusing power. I think it is great that schools are beginning to integrate technology with their curriculums and that teachers in Baldwin County Schools are so open to this change. The fact that some undergraduate students in our program (not bashing anyone) have just learned Google Docs and children around us have already started using this program is a pleasant surprise. At this young age, I think students will begin to take technology seriously as they progress through school.

 

Students from Perdido Elementary in Baldwin County using their MacBook Airs during class.

7. What Owens realized is very relevant in any educational setting. He believes in having students communicate in classrooms not only with the teacher, but with their fellow students as well. To Owen, teachers should ask questions that make students think or research to find an answer. 

In Physical Education, if students interact with each other and work toward a common goal, the outcome could be different coming out of PE classes. Too many students come out of PE not intending on being physically active the rest of their lives. If teachers had enough effect on their students, the students might change their perspective on their active lifestyle choices after Physical Education. Teachers should educate students by not only following their minimum requirements, but making it fun. Make it collaborative and cooperative; also make them realize the way they can have a healthy life and enjoy doing it.

The questions assigned in this post have made me realize the importance of interaction with students and teachers and the ways education has changed and will continue to change moving into the 21st Century. As a teacher, I will work to change this lecture-based education system into a technology-based system that incorporates real-life situations and active problem solving.