Thing 16: Powerful Wake Up Call

"Teach me to think, speak for myself, create collaborate explore." "I am a visual learner"

"I need more options....not limits." "You are limiting my learning."

Wow...after viewing these videos, the message was clear....we need an upgrade!! Students feel that they are not getting the skills they need for the new 21st century. When I think about the kids that sit all day in a lecture, listening to someone pass on "what you need to know" and then go home and have a technological community in which they interact, collaborate, create, explore and get instant feedback...there is a gap that I need to start filling!

I really feel the big take way from those videos is that the students are ready to use new skills to enhance their learning...and we need to make sure we are ready to do that.

I remember a long time ago when our district switched all of our computers over from Macs (which I LOVED) to PCs...I was teaching first grade at that time. Anyway...when we had them installed and all ready to go, I thought no problem...it can't be that different. I logged right on, when about the daily business until the end of the day. As I was going to shut it down, I could not for the life of me figure out. A sweet, shy, Korean speaking first grader came over to my desk and showed me how to shut down my computer (who would have thought that you would go to the start button to shut down). But the point was....WOW...I felt pretty behind! I'll always remember that feeling...which pushes me to try to keep up and meet students where they are and take them higher!! And that was a long time ago!!!

So, I think we have been challenged...I'm going for it!