The modern student faces a world of rapidly developing technology. Unfortunately, this is rarely reflected in the classroom. For many students, a day in class feels like this clip from Ferris Buehler's Day Off. One of the biggest issues confronting teachers is how to combat students' boredom, but also provide them with valuable information. This becomes especially difficult in a college setting where students have laptops- giving them unlimited access to an endless array of distractions. Even as I sit here writing this I have Facebook, email, and SLU Global and various other sites running simultaneously.
Most students like me consider this "multi-tasking," but it's an ever developing form of procrastination and distraction. Nothing, however, is duller than sitting in a classroom and listening to a teacher drone on about a topic that we're only half interested in. So, what will keep our attention and still give us the information we need?
Teachers need to keep in mind our generation's widespread knowledge of technology and take advantage of it. Class blogs (like this one my young adult literature class is creating) can prove themselves to be invaluable tools. They allow students to connect in a social network environment that is familiar to them while also bringing school into the picture. I personally enjoy classes in which my teachers utilize the internet- even if it's just to show a YouTube clip- to help bring more sources into the discussion.
The Kansas State University video we watched this week for class reiterates the point that students are simply not engaging in the classroom. Again, it is becoming so much more important to actually engage students in the learning environment, and as future teachers, we need to remember these things.
I am interested in your Young Adult's Lit class--I am taking a Children's Lit class this semester. I really like it! I'm also in Honors Great Books for the whole year, and I'm really stoked about all the books we get to read! So exciting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about procrastination. I am guilty of it ALL the time--I "just want to take a minute" to check facebook or clean out my emails, and suddenly, an hour has gone by! Ridiculous.
Shannon,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments on procrastination. I think I speak for all of us when I say that Facebook and email are the archenemies of our time management. However, I feel that you are saying that any and all technology is good for the classroom. Sometimes I find that the technology in the classroom can be just as distracting as Facebook and that there are other methods of engaging the student that don't necessarily have to revolve around technology. Of course, each of us has our own interpretations of the classroom and I think you highlight some great points here!
I love your blog's design and that you are keeping track of the banned books you have read! That is so cool! If I may suggest one: Fahrenheit 451. This is an epic book that is so relevant to today's world and our discussion on technology!
Shannon, first of all I love the design of your blog. Second of all, I completely agree with your comment on "multi-tasking". Students need to learn to focus on one thing at a time. If they can't, then they are not giving their full attention to learning something. I feel they are not treating their work as if it is valuable enough to learn.
ReplyDeleteI love Fahrenheit 451! It completely slipped my mind!
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