In 20ll, Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina's Super Intendant, Mark Edwards, brought laptops into their schools to help create a new type of learning for their students. "He says he anticipated it would take time for students and teachers to master the use of laptop computers, digital curricula, and more personalized ways of teaching and learning." Little did he know, his district went from number 30 to number 4 in just three short years.
He explains that, "students like using relevant tools and materials, the kids are more engaged and excited about school. They're doing things in class and saying, 'I will do this in my future.' "
Since when do you have students that believe what they are learning will be beneficial to their futures. Usually it's, "Why do we have to learn this?"
Is technology really making students want an education? I'm starting to think so.
Education Week Article
I don't think it's that it makes them want to learn more so much as it gives them the ability to easily access the information that they need to succeed in their education. The likelihood of a student doing well is greatly effected by the school system that they are in and what kind of learning experience it can provide. It doesn't surprise me at all that attaining new technology helped the students succeed, but I don't necessarily agree that it makes them want an education.
ReplyDeleteI think the main factor here is that the new technology helps students relate to the materials better. They're used to a world that revolves around technology and cutting-edge devices, but when they go to school, they are struck by the same old, "dead" technologies.
ReplyDeleteThe best example that I can think of for this that I've experienced is when you walk into a library, you always see one of those ridiculously HUGE dictionaries sitting on a podium. Do you go to it to find a definition, or do you go to the faster, more accessible option (the internet)? Personally, I loved to see the giant dictionaries, but I always saw it as too much of a pain to use them when I had much better options available. In short, I was used to using a computer for this rather than a book. I must admit, if I didn't have a computer available, I would probably just go without looking up a definition.
I think the trend towards students who "want an education" can be mostly attributed (in this case, at least) to the increased comfort, relativity, and accessibly that new technologies provide.