Considering the advances that the human race has been making over the past 10 years, it somewhat surprises me that the "iSchool initiative" took this long to spring up - and by a 17-year-old! If we, as educators, seek to properly educate and prepare our students to enter in a technological world, we must use the very tools used in the real world in our classrooms. Although the use of pens, paper, books, etc. will most likely still be utilized to an extent, advanced technology (in the long run) is a more logical teaching method.
In our Technology in the Classroom class, some of the students argued that this iSchool method of educating will be beneficial for some students who learn that way, but for others, it will be disadvantageous. However, adding different technology to the classroom does not necessarily create a decrease in actual teaching. Teachers still teach the material the same way they have been successfully for years, but now they have more time-efficient and effective materials to do so. Interactive games and programs on an iPad are much more appealing to a student than a worksheet. It makes learning fun!
I do agree, though, that the iSchool initiative could have faults. If we turn to this kind of schooling, there needs to be absolute assurance that the internet works, that students have internet at home, and that the technology will not be faulty or break. Since the students rely on the iPad and only the iPad for their worksheets, projects, and textbooks, if it breaks, they have no other options. Educators would have to put a backup plan into place to prevent this from occurring. Overall, the iSchool initiative is innovative and will cause the students to be well-prepared for a world that is transforming into a technological culture. iLike it.
Karly,
ReplyDeleteI agree to an extent. There are definitely benefits to doing school this way; however, I think that there are going to be kids who do not learn this way. The teacher may teach it the same, but the student still learns a different way. Take for instance myself, if I were asked as a young child to do my very best on something then I would have gotten out the pens and the paper along with any other hands on object that I could find that might help me. Looking at a screen and playing interactive games is great and all for SOME, but not all. Even now, I do so much better when I can pick up a pen and paper and write it out. As mentioned earlier, there are definite benefits and it is very important we prepare out students for what the world has to offer; however, I feel like there has to be a happy medium out there somewhere.