Assignment for week 2 August 29, 2011

Our children and youth are immersed in technologies that give them opportunities no previous generation has enjoyed. I believe that schools should respond with providing the tools that this generation needs in order to engage students. It is ironic that children ten years or younger are capable of using sophisticated technology, downloading applications and they have all kind of expertise when using technology and our schools are so behind in implementing this tools. This generation which is label the iGeneration does not see this kind of technology as tools for them “they simple are”, they just exist. To people born before the IGeneration sometimes is difficult to assimilate this idea. I was born in Generation X, and even thought that I am not totally immerse in technology, I believe that we need to start to be on the same technology level of the iGeneration children.

Assignments week of 08/22/2011

What does a Web 2.0 classroom look like?

A web 2.0 classroom is one that implements the use of technology with dynamic interaction. Students and teachers are the users of the technology and both can contribute as information producers. In his kind of classroom people share their opinions, thoughts and experiences through online tools. Also people not only use these technology tools but participate and interact in a more easy way. The use of applications such as podcasting, blogging, tagging, social bookmarking, social networking, and contribution to RSS are some examples of Web 2.0 classroom tools. When schools integrate Web 2.0 technologies they provide new way to engage students in a better way.

  

What does it mean to create a technology-rich constructivist classroom?

Integrating technology in the classroom is a very important tool for the curriculum of this generation. According to Prensky, teachers “should continue what they do best: leading discussion in the classroom, but they must find ways to incorporate those discussions the information and knowledge that their students acquire outside class in their digital lives” (Prensky 2006, p. 2). Today’s kids are challenging their educators to engage them at their level (2006, p.6). The kids are at the vanguard, they are innovators. Prensky mentioned in one of his articles that students have something in their lives that’s really engaging. They download music, play video games, surf the internet, etc, they all do something engaging except in school. And there it is so boring that the kids used to this other life, just can’t stand it (2006, p.2). Unfortunately new technology still faces a great deal of resistance in our schools (2006, p.2). “Let’s not just adopt technology into our schools. Let's adapt it, push it, pull it, iterate with it, experiment with it, test it, and redo it, until we reach the point where we and our kids truly feel we've done our very best’ (Prensky, 2006, p. 5) By doing this a technology-rich constructivist classroom can be created. Technology-rich constructivist classrooms advocate the incorporation of modern technology that facilitates telecommunications for a better engagement and motivation to the students of this generation.

Sources:

Prensky, M. (December 2005/January 2006). Learning in the digital age: Listen to the natives.Educational Leadership, 63 (4). Retrieved June 4, 2006. Available online: http://www.ascd.org/authors/ed_lead/el200512_prensky.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Posting my first blog!

I like music and technology but this is my first time blogging!