In Will Richardson's book Why School? he discusses how schools are not adequately preparing students to succeed in our technology centered modern world. He explains that the old type of school revolves around teaching to the test, but students will not take standardized tests in the real world. However, they will need to know how to think critically, use technology to find useful information, know how to analyze and use that information, and communicate their ideas. Richardson argues that the world is changing, thus so must schools. He explains two different types of ways that schools can change to integrate technology into their classrooms. He calls these two types of reform "better" and "different". The better way is to use technology to better teach the same content teachers are already teaching and to help student preform better on standardized tests. The different way is to change the fundamentals of schools, curriculum, teaching, and classrooms. I believe that schools need to shift to this type of different schooling. Richardson describes how with this different type of schooling "students have more ownership over their own learning, using their access to knowledge and teachers to create their own unique paths to the outcomes we, and they, deem important" (p.27). I agree with Richardson that since information is readily available to students, as teachers we need to shift our roles from deliverers of information to facilitators of learning. Students learn the most when they are able to discover concepts on their own and find ways to apply them to real world situations. Since this is the way students learn the best and it develops the skills they will need in the future, schools should not only embrace the use of technology in classrooms but use it as an integral aspect of a Richardson's different type of school.
I could commit to the idea of transferring the power to the students. Richardson describes how we need to let students be innovative with technology and the only way to do that is to let them create and explore on their own. In my class I allow my student to investigate the new mathematical concepts we are learning, but I feel that I could transfer even more power to them. If I gave my students more freedom to research what they wanted I think that they would become even more engaged with the subject matter. I want my students to take responsibility for their learning and become innovative, creative, and critical thinkers.
One of the ideas that I would struggle with implementing would be the talk to strangers idea. I would be concerned about what/who my students would encounter online if I told them to find teachers who have specialties in their field that they are researching. Richardson states the importance of first teaching students how to distinguish who is an appropriate person to make connections with. However I worry that even after that lesson some of my students will not be mature enough to make responsible choices when contacting people online.
I could commit to the idea of transferring the power to the students. Richardson describes how we need to let students be innovative with technology and the only way to do that is to let them create and explore on their own. In my class I allow my student to investigate the new mathematical concepts we are learning, but I feel that I could transfer even more power to them. If I gave my students more freedom to research what they wanted I think that they would become even more engaged with the subject matter. I want my students to take responsibility for their learning and become innovative, creative, and critical thinkers.
One of the ideas that I would struggle with implementing would be the talk to strangers idea. I would be concerned about what/who my students would encounter online if I told them to find teachers who have specialties in their field that they are researching. Richardson states the importance of first teaching students how to distinguish who is an appropriate person to make connections with. However I worry that even after that lesson some of my students will not be mature enough to make responsible choices when contacting people online.