Fear or Magic? ICTs with a purpose
This page of my site deals with the ideas of fear and magic which can somehow dominate our relationship with computers (and technology at large) in education.
In the sections of this area you will find ways or suggestions to use technology in the teaching/learning process.
If are are here, please note that
- the use of specific tools online DOES NOT solve the issues or problems we encounter in a regular classroom setting. Computers and the Internet have been viewed with fear by some and as a magic box by many more.
- Neither fear nor magic really help us here.
ABOUT FEAR ( aka, the panic attack )
QUICK POINTERS
1- you do not need to be a computer geek, or so savvy to use them in your classroom. Let go of that belief. Really. If you find good sites, put them down somewhere. Your students can always help you with tech stuff… let THEM help you, give THEM power. If you have a meaningful purpose to visit a site, after all the connection issues have been worked out by your kids, they will be happy to see…. what you want them to experiment. Our task here is to understand how to gauge sites in terms of their educational value. (link pending)
2-do spend time searching online for meaningful sites, activities and /or resources that can motivate your students at some point in your curriculum;
3- think of how an activity, a website or an activity online better serves the objectives in your students’ curriculum. Think of your students and their learning outcomes when choosing what to do with them online.
ABOUT MAGIC ( aka, the computer will solve the problems with my students)
QUICK POINTERS
1- computers are tools. A hammer can be of little help if you can’t hit the screw nail.. a food processor will be no help if you don’t know what you’re mixing there. Same thing happens with computers … and yes, the Internet.
2- your students can be great at managing a computer, as they can really know how to use a hammer or a food processor. Let them use their skills there. Your role is to give them the ingredients… they will use the food processor for the purpose of your curriculum.
Technology can make you and your students partners in the learning process.
As teachers, paring up with our students can be a real challenge… but the process is so worthwhile. If you become one with your students, and you all become learners… you’ll be exactly where you might need to be: in the real world! which means people gathering together to solve real-world problems. Let your students teach you! and then barter!! show them later what you have to offer for them.
Feature Presentation
April 2010
