In today's classroom, students were practically born with technology in each of their hands. They have lived a technology filled life outside the classroom that when they are asked to sit and learn without technology it’s almost like you are talking a foreign language to them.
In their free time my middle school students typically are communicating with family members in the same room as them, connected online to their friends in the next town over - through a headpiece, all while are playing video games on the Xbox. They are using almost all of their senses at one time. And this is what they do on their own time.
I'm not that old but I remember when school time was the busy go go go atmosphere and you would go home and relax by playing outside. Students these days are the complete opposite. They are go go go when they are at home and into all hours of the night and then when they come to school it’s a struggle just to focus on one thing at a time.
It’s no wonder why, unless they are very dedicated students to their studies that teachers struggle to keep their interest. I have noticed by adding a short video (ex. teachertube) or some kind of music clip at various intervals in a lesson that I am able to maintain their attention and focus for longer periods of time. When did my job description as a teacher pick up the “entertainer” characteristic?
I understand that this is the world that we live in and like it or not we are going to have to deal with it and learn to embrace technology and use it throughout our lessons. I have found some valuable websites in order to help use technology as learning tools in my science and language arts classes. I have also come across a good read on introducing the gaming world into the classroom as well.
Any thoughts?
