Thing 16 - Teach Digital

1. Digital Students at Analog Schools
I liked this video because it was centered around an age group that we haven't talked a lot about yet - students at the universities. I felt like their main point was that by continuing to teach the way we always have (i.e., lecturing), universities are not really preparing students for the future. The new jobs being created are centered on communication, creativity, and being able to express yourself/your ideas in different ways. One line that stuck out for me was that students want us to connect learning with something relevant to them. How many times have we heard, "When will I ever use this?" If we continue to make the connections of learning in school to skills in the outside world, the results could really be amazing.

2. Sir Ken Robinson speaking at TED
First off, Sir Ken Robinson was a fantastic speaker and very entertaining. I liked many of his points, including the fact that the future is unpredictable, so how do we really know what is the most important subject to be teaching? His story about his son being in the play with the three wise men made such a good point as well -- that kids are not afraid to be wrong. However, by adulthood, they have been taught to be afraid to be wrong. I never really thought about that point, but I do believe it to be true. There are many times I wish I could go back to the free-spirit of an elementary student, ready to take chances and risks even if I fail. With all of the different job opportunities there are now, I don't think it is fair for us to be the ones choosing what is the most important subjects students should be learning. We have to stop seeing a student who is interested in art only being able to be an artist (like Picasso or someone). Their creative, artistic minds can take them in so many directions these days, not just sitting at an easel painting pictures. My favorite part of his speech was at the very end when he said, "We may not see this future, but they will. And our job is to help them make something of it." There have been so many times when I come to realize, I may not see the results of the work I have put in with a student, but hopefully someday the time we spent together will help them to have a happy and fulfilling life.

3. No Future Left Behind
This video was interesting because it was all coming from the perspective of middle school students. Since that is the population with whom I work, I could really hear their voices coming through. I felt like their main point was that they really do want to learn and experiment, but they still need our help to get to their future. I liked the quote, "I can't create my future with the tools of your past."

Biggest learning takeaway from all three: Kids are ready to take on the future and want us to come along on their journey, but we need to make sure we are up for the challenge.