I think these video bring up some valid points about the current state of education and the way students of today best learn. I would like to treat the videos first separately and then give some final points on their combined merits or shortcomings.
The first video which relates the status of students in higher education brought up some interesting topics. One thing that struck me the most was one student holding up a sign that said her average class size was 115 students. This seems to be a little outrageous. At the University of Illinois there are ~40,000 students. This is by no means a small number, but I've never had a class that didn't have a component such as a discussion or lab section that was done on a much smaller scale than a large lecture. I admit that large lectures are not the best environment for learning. It is way too easy to feel as though you are just a wallflower rather than a student in a learning environment. This promotes sleeping, texting, IMing, and even playing WOW during a lecture. I think the that one of the biggest points to take from this is that students today are used to having massive amounts of sensory input on a regular basis. We multitask like no generation before us, and when we are put in a large classroom with over one hundred others expected to pay attention to one professor reading from slides we can't help but feel unegaged. Students today need active learning throught classrooms that are able to engage them. This is accomplished (albeit not always well) at least at this university through lab and discussion sections. Unfortunatly these sections are not taught by professors, but generally by TA's with 2 days of training on how to teach. There definately could be some improvement to this system and utilizing the technologies that students are already plugged into would be a great way to do that. I have seen some professors make podcasts of lectures. Others utilize web resources that allow students to interact with each other and with their instructors. These definatly benefit the student and the overall learning achieved.
The other video (K-12) made an interesting point that I want to discuss a little here. Some teachers embrace technology, but others view it as corrupting and anti-education. I believe that as teachers we need to adapt the the world around us. We need to prepare children as best we can with the technologies of today for a a world with the technologies of tomorrow. I think it is shortsighted to discourage students from using some to the amazing gadgetry that is out there. What is a problem is when these technologies are abused. Text messaging in class for example is obviously going to detract from a student's learning experience. We as teachers can, however, turn this around and utilize these things to help the students actually enjoy learning. Instead of text messaging during class we could encourage the formation of text messaging trees to help the student help each other turn their assignments in on time. I have no idea whether this specific activity would actually work or not, but we as teachers must try to embrace these ideas rather than fight the inevitable change.
Through both videos there is an overarching theme that states that students in the classroom are not being actively engage enought to promote the maximum learning and achieve their potential. This we must take to heart, and we must explore new ways of getting students intrested in the classroom and the subject of the class. We would be foolish not to utilize what we have around us. Why should we reinvent the wheel when we can just build upon the wheel and get the class rolling?
Just a little something to chew on,
~Isaac
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3 comments:
I really enjoyed your post. I think you made a GREAT point about the fact that we are a multi-tasking generation. I always feel guilty for texting during class that follow the same mundane layout of powerpoint slides, but at the same time, I feel like I honestly cannot pay attention and retain any information that way. So your post made me feel a little better about myself, hah. I also really liked how you said that as teachers, we must embrace the world around us. Where would be a better place to educate our students about the benefits of our ever-changing technological society than in the classroom? Sure not everything is a benefit, but we must embrace it instead of ignore it.
I agree. You have a lot of good ideas. One that struck me was that our generation is indeed given a lot of sensory overload, so a large lecture isn't engaging. I completely agree. The only way students will learn these days is by actively participating. It's also very true that we need to embrace technology. Not only so we can keep the students engaged, but also to teach them how to use technology in their lives. The best class I ever took was a basic high school course that taught me all about Microsoft Office. It's great because now I'm not phased when I need to create a powerpoint presentation. Indeed we must embrace technology.
First off, what is WOW? I've never heard of it. Now as for the videos, I agree 100 percent with the fact that education in large classes is not education at its truest form. I think that we would be remiss to think that students in a class of 100 plus are learning and retaining very much. However, as for technology, you have to realize that some teachers are just going to be unable to teach with technology. They are uncomfortable with it and do not use it themselves. Why make a teacher use something they don't understand instead of letting some other qualified teacher, in say a strictly technology class, teach students how to properly use technology to their advantages?
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