I don’t get to write on here as often as I would like but I am committed to getting to it more often. I have spent some time in the past week meeting a number of educators who are on the same journey many of us are on when it comes to web 2.0 technologies. I am still getting my head around the concept of students becoming more than just consumers of information but also becoming producers of information. I look at the quality podcasts and blogs that are being done in the educational realm and am beginning to see first hand how quickly this generation of students are adapting to a new information environment. Some things I am noticing here…
1) Students are not nervous about being the producers of information.
As soon as they sense that they have the ability to have ownership of the information they embrace the change immediately.
2) Students have more ideas on the ways the information can be produced than adults do.
I have introduced many different groups of students to the concept of podcasting. The one thing that amazes me each time is how quickly they grasp the concept and begin to suggest different and innovative ways to present.
3) Students want to be producers of information.
Give them an inch and they will want to take a mile!! (What more can I say?)
4) Students enjoy the challenges involved in producing information.
They attack the new challenges that come in this area head on.
5) Students enjoy becoming producers of information.
They can see the potential and the way that they can begin to have a sense of ownership over their learning. “I am in control of what and how I am learning”
I love the quote “In order to be the best you need to be different.” In fact I enjoy sharing that with teachers and students when encouraging them to embrace these new learning tools. Educators need to have an understanding of this idea. To be the best educators we need to be different. We need to present information and content in new and innovative ways. It is not that our students want us to do it this way; it is that they expect us to do it this way. I reflect back on the digital student’s movie that Wes Fryer alluded to in a recent podcast. It is a must viewing for any educator at all levels of education.
Just my little rant for the day. I am starting to get excited about my trip to the centre of the flat world next week. I leave for India in 7 days time and will be posting blogs on my observations while I am there.