Marc Prensky's challenge, although interesting, is totally
idealistic and would be almost impossible to accomplish. As educators,
it is enough of a challenge to cover one year's worth of curriculum in
that year as we prepare for state testing, manage the different
abilities in our classroom and also provide the emotional support to
our students who sometimes need so much.
To say that we should use such incentives as i-pod programming and
meetings with cell phone makers as reason for students to do well in
school is utterly ridiculous. What about those students who do not
have access to some of these luxuries? Isn't this simply making it
worse for them? One should also consider that there may be individuals
who have no interest in such areas as nanotechnology and bioethics. I
wonder what motivated Mr.Prensky to do his best in school? Could it
have been as simple as an inspirational teacher or a parent who made
academics a priority? Possibly he should reflect on his own schooling
to discover what it is that really motivates students to learn.
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3 comments:
I can comprehend the challenges that we, as teachers face everyday and we know how hard it is just to accomplish a curriculum and testing standards. I took a look into his theory and what I found to be of value was that we can apply some of the interests that students have to get them more motivated. I would integrate technology, not program i-pods. Teenagers have a wonderful ability to do that on their own. If they are so talented with things like that, then I would know for sure if motivated properly they can achieve other areas of academics.
I agree with what lizette said. I would go one further though, actually, and think it would be very beneficial for us, as educators, to ask our students to present to our whole class their specific technological talents. This way, the students in class that do not know how to perform certain technological tasks can learn them from their tech-savvy peers. Students teaching students is a very strong tool for learning.
Dana-
You bring up an interesting point called "The Digital Divide" where technology will subject those who do not have access (usually due to financial means) to a permanent economic and educational subclass.
If Prensky's ideas came with funds for the underpriveledged, maybe it could turn the digital divide?
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