In chapter 1, Brooks and Young discuss the importance of developing an appreciation for the core content knowledge taught as well as the 21st century skills necessary for real world assimilation. The overall message I gained from reading chapter 1 of Teaching With The Tools Kids Really Use is that in today's fast paced, ever changing world, teachers have to be prepared to implement and utilize the technology presented to them in their everyday teaching routine. Teachers that teach from non updated notes from years past are only doing a disadvantage to the students. Students now days, more so than ever, are exposed to technology in many different medias and contexts. The classroom teacher needs to realize that and use it to the learning student's advantage. I can relate, probably more closely than others, to Brooks and Young when they write that today's educational system is rooted in the past.
Toward the end of chapter one, Brooks and Young offer suggestions for the classroom teacher on how technology or the 21st century skills can be incorporated into everyday classroom instruction. The one phrase that echos with me is that teachers are not to implement technology that only creates a task easier for the student, but challenges them to dig deeper with material at hand. I have seen it done in so many classrooms when teachers will say they are meeting a National Educational Technology Standard when in fact they are merely creating less work for them to grade. From my own personal experience with technology and classroom instruction, a teacher that is more susceptible to using technology in the classroom promotes the learning of the 21st century skills whether the teacher knows it or not.
One of the greatest insights learned from this chapter is that those teachers that understand and can use technology in the classroom to accurately fuse the 21st century skills with core knowledge need not keep to themselves. For instance, everything technology comes super easy to me, especially anything deriving from the Apple platform. Keeping in mind that teachers want to enhance and engage student's with their learning, the most practical thing for tech savvy teachers to do is to share their resources with their fellow co-teachers. It's a partnership that works to the success of the student's learning as well as the teacher's professional development in uprooting traditional paper and pencil teaching styles.
Well written
ReplyDelete