Planning for Neomillennial Learning Styles: Implications for Investments in Technology and Faculty
Chris Dede Harvard University © Chris Dede Today's students have been described as having an information-age mindset, being Millennials or members of the Net Generation. While this portrayal of generational learning styles can be oversimplified, the technology and media used by children during their formative years do have an influence on how they learn, as do the media used by adults. How Emerging Media Foster Neomillennial Learning Styles Over the next decade, three complementary interfaces will shape how people learn:2 The familiar "world to the desktop." Net Generation learning styles stem primarily from the world-to-the-desktop interface; however, the growing prevalence of interfaces to virtual environments and augmented realities is beginning to foster so-called neomillennial learning styles in users of all ages. How Immersive Presence Enhances Learning Inducing a participant's symbolic immersion involves triggering powerful semantic associations via the content of an experience.
With Tech Taking Over in Schools, Worries Rise - NYTimes.com
Photo At a New York state elementary school, teachers can use a behavior-monitoring app to compile information on which children have positive attitudes and which act out. In Georgia, some high school cafeterias are using a biometric identification system to let students pay for lunch by scanning the palms of their hands at the checkout line. And across the country, school sports teams are using social media sites for athletes to exchange contact information and game locations. Technology companies are collecting a vast amount of data about students, touching every corner of their educational lives — with few controls on how those details are used. Now California is poised to become the first state to comprehensively restrict how such information is exploited by the growing education technology industry. Gov. James P. “You can’t have an education technology revolution without strong privacy protections for students,” said Mr. The California effort comes at a pivotal time for the industry.
Student Achievement
Does technology improve student learning? Computers in schools help students accomplish their schoolwork both effectively and efficiently. Research has shown that when computers are integrated correctly into the curriculum students show improved motivation and enthusiasm for school. Critical thinking, problem solving, independent learning skills, content knowledge, and the ability to compete in the work force are all enhanced (Rockman 3). Computers can enhance student achievement by engaging and involving students, as they become active participants in a meaningful learning experience. Technology also empowers students to feel pride in their accomplishments and in being producers of knowledge. The Education Commission of the states asserts that, when integrated effectively, technology can allow students to initiate self-directed research projects or collaborate with other students around the world. Real-world contexts for learning Connections to outside experts Scaffolds for problem solving
The False Promise of Classroom Technology
The cover story of Life magazine on Oct. 16 was “U.S. Schools: They Face a Crisis.” Of course, there’s pretty much always a sense of crisis in education—in fact, the Life story dates from 63 years ago: Oct. 16, 1950—and it isn’t limited to the U.S. Two weeks ago, the U.K. announced it would revamp its curriculum and testing for 16-year-olds yet again, on the basis (yet again) that the previous system wasn’t rigorous enough. Both the American and British school systems could surely do better. The trouble is that the perpetual sense of educational crisis leads to a search for quick fixes—the latest of which is throwing Information Technology at the classroom. For all the complaints Americans have about their schools, other countries have far more reason to worry than we do. One common response has been to put more computers in schools. As any parent knows, kids love computers. It’s great when that natural curiosity can be used to help educate children.
Complete Issue Volume 4 Issue 1 | Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning | Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
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How Technology Has Changed Education
The education of a nation’s youth to a full height of academic rigor and standing is a complex process that nearly always spans more than a decade, requires tens of thousands of dollars, dozens of teachers, and of course, technology. Not always the most recent technology, mind you, but even the oldest Pentium One computer was once new. Technology inside of education is a somewhat problematic premise, an idea that generates controversy from the earliest of primary school grades right through to the top of the academic pyramid, graduate school. As you well know, technology can be a powerful tool for learning, and it can be the same for cheating. It can be used to inform, and to distort. While some elements in the world of education still want to stress cursive penmanship and hand-editing, it is hard not to admit that technology, specifically and mostly the internet and personal computing, have transformed the modern world. Collaboration Collaboration is becoming a real-time event. Cheating
Artifact: What is the Effect of Technology Training for Teachers on Student Achievement? | David Wees' ePortfolio
(Download a copy of this here) Abstract This paper discusses the importance of teacher training in technology. One important question is looked at, specifically; does training in technology lead to increased student achievement? Introduction One thing my colleagues are always complaining about when it comes to technology is a lack of adequate training in how to use technology. Review of Current Literature An important part of answering this question is addressing the issue of how well educational research is done in the area of technology since we need to know how good the tools are that will be used to answer this question. According to Cradler, J., Freeman, M., Cradler, R., McNabb, M. (2002),"A careful review of studies shows that more than the specific technology or software used, the context in which technology is applied is critical to the educator." To paraphrase Brand, G. These various papers have some common threads, similar to what we discussed as a class. Conclusion References
Experiential Learning in Teams
Teamwork is prevalent in organizations, yet it has pitfalls such as social loafing, groupthink, overdependence on a dominant leader, overcommitment to goals, and diffusion of responsibility. Such negative factors can be overcome and team effectiveness improved when teams intentionally focus on learning. This article draws on nearly four decades of research and theory on experiential learning theory in teams. Download Now
