This is the place for us to SHARE, ASK, REFLECT UPON different issues. Cathartic corner? Why not?
A place for teachers taking the course in Región 5: A. Brown, San Vicente, Pte Perón and E Echeverría
Basically, I’d say this scenario is more or less the same everywhere around the world. Maybe, in developing countries like ours, it’s even worse. There seems to be some connections between Robinson and Prensky’s ideas. Robinson argues that today’s learners are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information from different media, while teachers are still teaching the same contents the same old ways, standing at the front, chalk in hand. True, it’s boring for today’s learners. I do think we should have a go at using new ICT in our lessons, but I still don’t quite agree with the underlying idea that we should ‘entertain’ students in order to keep them motivated. Entertainment? That’s for TV, radio, the cinema, the Internet and the like. Who said that teaching must be entertaining in order to foster learning? Where are the pieces of evidence from different lines of research that back up such a claim? Then, how many of us were entertained at school when we were schoolchildren? Haven’t we learnt all the same? Anyway, are today’s students going to be playing games, laughing and having the time of their life in the tomorrow’s workplace? Are their bosses going to entertain them? So do teachers have to “fish for” students’ attention’? Is that our role? How can any teacher motivate all the students simultaneously when what motivates one demotivates the other, when motivation itself is a wishy-washy construct? I think we, as teachers, must develop professionally but be critical about certain claims that are just passing fads in education. ICT by itself isn’t going to save the day. Put it another way, not so long ago books were thought to be the answer and here we are. Maybe, now we don’t have to face illiteracy, but functional illiteracy and PC illiteracy…
Sorry, this is sth that sometimes happens to me: I’d read Prensky’s articles and then I watched Robinson’s videos and somehow the arguments made by both got connected in my head. All that I wrote about ‘entertaining students’ was meant to be against Prensky’s claims.
Basically, I’d say this scenario is more or less the same everywhere around the world. Maybe, in developing countries like ours, it’s even worse.
ResponderEliminarThere seems to be some connections between Robinson and Prensky’s ideas. Robinson argues that today’s learners are exposed to an overwhelming amount of information from different media, while teachers are still teaching the same contents the same old ways, standing at the front, chalk in hand. True, it’s boring for today’s learners.
I do think we should have a go at using new ICT in our lessons, but I still don’t quite agree with the underlying idea that we should ‘entertain’ students in order to keep them motivated. Entertainment? That’s for TV, radio, the cinema, the Internet and the like. Who said that teaching must be entertaining in order to foster learning? Where are the pieces of evidence from different lines of research that back up such a claim? Then, how many of us were entertained at school when we were schoolchildren? Haven’t we learnt all the same?
Anyway, are today’s students going to be playing games, laughing and having the time of their life in the tomorrow’s workplace? Are their bosses going to entertain them? So do teachers have to “fish for” students’ attention’? Is that our role? How can any teacher motivate all the students simultaneously when what motivates one demotivates the other, when motivation itself is a wishy-washy construct?
I think we, as teachers, must develop professionally but be critical about certain claims that are just passing fads in education. ICT by itself isn’t going to save the day. Put it another way, not so long ago books were thought to be the answer and here we are. Maybe, now we don’t have to face illiteracy, but functional illiteracy and PC illiteracy…
I'll leave my comments for later. What about the rest? Do you agree, disagree, agree partially with your thoughtful colleague?
ResponderEliminarWatch the video again. Is Sir K. Robinson reducing the problem to having fun, only?
We are all ears (or eyes and fingers)...
stella :-)
O.o Definitely, he’s not.
ResponderEliminarSorry, this is sth that sometimes happens to me: I’d read Prensky’s articles and then I watched Robinson’s videos and somehow the arguments made by both got connected in my head. All that I wrote about ‘entertaining students’ was meant to be against Prensky’s claims.
;-)