Blog Post #2

This week I had to review several videos that depict the changes in teaching for the 21st century. The first one I reviewed was Professor Dancealot. In this video students are taking a dance class from Professor Dancealot. Despite being a dance class, Professor Dancealot stands behind a desk and reads off a powerpoint. His examples of the dances are limited, and he has no student involvement. When it comes time for the final his students are lost and are relying on written notes to perform a dance. The point of this video was to show how this kind of teaching style effects students. The video shows students disinterested, bored, sleeping, not paying attention, confused, and all around displeased with how Professor Dancealot was teaching. They might of learned the definitions and steps, but they did not learn how to apply what they learned. This was proven when it came time for the final and all the students were confused and flipping through their notes. I do not agree with the teaching methods that Professor Dancealot implements, but I do agree with what the video is trying to say. Teaching is not just standing in front of some students and talking. Teaching includes involvement and applying what was learned so the students have a better understanding of the subject.

The second video I reviewed was Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts. In this video Roberts discussing what is like to be a teacher in the 21st century. He addresses the fact that students in the 21st century have access to any information at any time of the day. He theorizes that because teachers are no longer the main source of information, it is now a teacher's duty to become a filter for the information. As a teacher in the 21st century, he says teachers should be teaching students how to use the internet as an asset in learning instead of seeing it as a source for entertainment. He sees the ever growing need for technology as a way to engage students in the learning process. By showing them how to google properly, cite correctly, or connect to networks, he sees this as a new way of learning that, we as teachers, facilitate from the background. I understand what Roberts is saying, and yes this is most likely going to happen but, I am still not all gung-ho for completely throwing away the old way of teaching because students have more access to the internet. If Roberts is correct, I will no longer be teaching what I know. Instead I will be waiting for my students to discover this information on their own while I oversee what they learn and how they learn it.

The third video I reviewed was The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler. This video introduces the term 'connectivism.' This theory theorizes that learning occurs as a part of social networking of many diverse connections an ties. After watching this video, and a few others on the list, I had to stop and question why I was becoming a teacher. Because I am a product of the early 21st century education where technology was not the driving force and I had a burp-back education, I am overwhelmed by the changes in the classroom. To me being a teacher means teaching a student an idea or a fact and then expand on that after it has been taught. However, in this changing time, to be a teacher means to put that idea out there and let the student discover what it is on their own. It does bring students to a higher level of thinking and yes that is a good thing, but it's an idea I am not use to.

The fourth video I reviewed was Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts by Vicki Davis. She theorizes that problems within the classroom result from the limitations that are created by using just pen and paper. She sees technology as an opportunity for students to grow and learn more through group projects. I, again, was very overwhelmed with her teaching style. When she openly admitted to not having a slight clue on how to terraform, the first thing I wanted to scream was "How can you teach this then?" It is a weird idea to me for a teacher not to know or being a little informed in what he or she is assigning to her students. It is like telling a student to diffuse a bomb, but not giving them help or being knowledgeable enough to answer a question they might have. Technology is a great asset for learning, but I believe a student must have the basics before diving deeper into a subject. However, the peer teaching, and group learning is a great way to keep students engaged. That can lead to information being retained and remembered further down the road.

The fifth video I reviewed was Who's Ahead in the Learning Race by John Strange. This video depicts the learning gap in technology between elementary and college level students. Strange visits an elementary school that has kindergarteners using google docs and third graders creating rubrics. It shows just how advanced elementary schools have gotten, which does put them ahead in the technology race. However, I believe I am not far behind. I have used most of google's tools that are available to me and I am proficient in several video and photo editing softwares.

The last video I reviewed was Flipping the Classroom Flipping the classroom is not a new phrase to me, but the actual concept is. I have heard that term here and there but have not known what it actually entailed. For those who are like me, flipping the classroom is a new innovative way of learning in the classroom. Instead using class time to explain a concept, a student will get a prerecorded videos of teachers going over concepts. The outcome is suppose to prompt questions and involvement from the students and maximize classroom time for student activities and group engagement. I believe flipping the classroom is a great concept and I will use some aspects from it in my own classroom. However, I do not like the idea of just sticking a kid in front of a computer. I will still teach students in the classroom, but I will also find time to maximize group projects and peer teaching. Will flipping the classroom be useful to me? Yes and no. I will utilize the parts I find most beneficial to my classroom.