Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

(Cross-posted on educatorslog.in)


Kids today are often referred to as “digital natives”. They enjoy being able to express themselves through the many digital technologies that they are so facile with; technologies that they would enjoy putting to use for the purposes of learning (and school work) as well.

This video was created to inspire teachers to use technology in engaging ways to help students develop higher level thinking skills and be better prepared to succeed in the century. It is just as important for parents to understand, and sync up, with their digital kids.

‘A Vision of K-12 Students Today’ was probably inspired by an earlier video ‘A Vision of Students Today‘ made by Michael Wesch in collaboration with 200 students at Kansas State University in which they share similar views (in similar fashion too) about their affinity for, and desire to use, digital media in higher education. This earlier post discusses Michael Wesch, his work on studying mediated cultures, and his popular channel on youtube.

3 comments:

  1. I really liked this video! I think it is unfortunate that so many people try to fight techology. With so many young people using technology as heavily as they do I think that it would be much easier and more beneficial to adjust the ways it is used to make it more effective.

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  2. Important video! Teachers tend to teach the way they were taught... scary, huh?! That is why my son, who loves to write poetry independently, did not even have one writing unit this year in his state-side school. More worksheets came home in his backpack in one week, than he had in a semester when he attended a private school two years ago overseas. We, as teacher, must change the way we do things. We can learn from the students themselves about applications, wikipages, etc. digital storytelling is just a beginning. These kids live for the computers and will be adults in a world that is computer driven. Our job is to teach them how to use them to express their thoughts and creativity. That is hard for teachers to do because we didn't grow up that way. But enough excuses, we have to overcome that and get on with it. Take training, try new things, ask the students to show us how to use some of the applications, get on line for project ideas. It can be done.

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  3. This is an important video! I think technology needs to be incorporated more in teaching and classrooms. Students today are so into technology and I think teachers are scared that they may learn something from their students. I completely agree with teachers teaching the way they were taught.

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