“If students learn what they do...what are they learning sitting here? It’s not just about what [we] are saying it’s also the [deeper] message of the information is up here...that they should follow along and bow to authority and follow, follow, follow…” (Wesch, 2010) Michael Wesch shares his point of view in a TED Talk, as a college professor in regards to his students and how learning has (or more appropriately needs to) change to allow for the rapid growth and change of social media and education. While watching his talk my heart sank. The video is 5 years old yet how many classrooms are still under the idea that students are to follow, follow, follow? We talk about critically thinking and teaching students to be problem solvers but are we even presenting problems for our students to solve? Or are we presenting just enough information for our students to “pass” the next text only to lose that information as soon as the next text content is presented? “We need to move away from what do we need to know for this [multiple choice] test to what do we need to know for the test of our lives”. (Wesch, 2010). School ended for the year last week in our district but what would the walls say? (Wesch, 2010) Would they say that many students are still learning to sit back, be quiet and wait for the answers or are they learning to be an active participant to solve problems? According to Wesch, “knowledge ability changes over time based on the communication environment they are in” (Wesch, 2010) But what if the communication environment never changes? Many, many classrooms are doing amazing things and bringing the global community into their four walls of learning yet on the other hand many classroom students are still sitting back, taking it all (or not) in and waiting for the test in order to move onto the next set of content all while not really learning a thing. Said students reach fifth grade and many are reading at a 1st and 2nd grade reading level and no one has the guts to say what are WE doing wrong? Wesch shares that our students are looking for the meaning of life and trying to find their identity in a world that is throwing thousands of images at them at a time. (Wesch, 2010) In order to help our students we have to “move beyond critical thinking... as it is not a one way conversation anymore”.(Wesch, 2010) Instead, we need to allow them a platform contribute globally as “different contributions all over the world can add up to something quite beautiful”. (Wesch, 2010) I don’t know about you but we owe it to all of our students to contribute, respond and be apart of something quite beautiful! Resources Wesch, M (2010, October 12). From Knowlegable to Knowlege-Able [video file]. retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeaAHv4UTI8.
3 Comments
Michael A. O'Hagan
6/8/2015 02:18:02 am
I agree that we still have too many classrooms designed and managed for a different time. Students need to explore and take control of their own learning, with teachers fostering their curiosity. "The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled" (Plutarch). While this quote is somewhere around 2,000 years old, it is still applicable. I always try to make my classroom a place where knowledge is used to solve real life problems. I know that the tests are important, but like you, I wonder if we are truly enriching our students lives, or just giving them enough to pass the test.
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6/8/2015 05:35:53 am
“Or are we presenting just enough information for our students to “pass” the next text only to lose that information as soon as the next text content is presented? “ You make a great point, I reflect on my current teaching practices and it’s the biggest battle we have as teachers. Do we prepare students for a test or do we prepare them for life? The 21st century life. We try to find that balance because as a school and teacher, we’re evaluated based on test scores (amongst other things). On the other hand, I personally love technology, sharing with the online community, posting videos and I try to pass that along to my students. I want to prepare them and spark a certain passion to today’s world. This video was a huge eye opener in regards to the global outlook toward technology and looking it as a collaboration opportunity.
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Jana
6/11/2015 09:01:48 pm
I agree with you that many teachers are committing a disservice to our students by teaching them knowledge that they can not really use. As a history teacher I grapple with this issue while making lesson plans with limited technology and resources. Many of my lessons are pen and paper because my students infrastructure can not handle my class on computers. Your post definitely is making me think how to scaffold a teaching environment that uses my subject with minimal technology but still able to prepare them in the 21st century.
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