Game of Clones

Compliments of Wordle

I learned something new so I thought i would share the wealth. This is a word cluster produced from the blog written by Meranology last session.

The future is now and many schools are beginning to make experimental changes that will keep them at the forefront of educational reform. Some campuses have begun to use GAMIFICATION strategies hoping to inspire students through different modalities.

Questa Learn is a school designed for digital kids. There philosophy focuses on how kids learn outside of school so they can motivate kids in the same manner during school. Social networks are successful because they promote participation amongst their users. There job is easier because their audience is already interested in the material. It is our job to find ways to improve student engagement. Rather than enforcing rules that minimize opportunities for students to do what they like, we need to reach an equilibrium that will motivate them by reinforcing what they already love.

 Programming can help many students learn how to problem solve because it offers a variety of choices and challenges. The levels become increasingly harder as the game continues, but is virtually unnoticeable to the player. Game design is about trial and error. The key to success in game design is creating a balance that is believable. Teachers need to help balance the amount of gaming as well. Students cobuild with an expert collaborating on projects and exploring different mediums. This program is another way of looking at the world. It does a great job of mirroring society. Many workers use team building and technology to get the results they need.

School and teachers are no longer the primary source of information for students. There is an amazing amount of access to information, but it is our job to be facilitators now. In many scenarios the student could be the technology teacher. We can promote the use of personal devices, utilizing strengths and interests to create independent thought. Technology are tools designed to help users achieve a certain result, but how you choose to use it will determine how effective it will actually be. As educators we must reach an understanding before we can teach about equity, empathy, and ethics of technology.

I Despise Coins, but Change is Good!

Plain and simple times have changed and so have our students. Students spend so many hours in front of a screen that a paperless movement is inevitable. Technology has allowed us to extend ourselves beyond our natural means; we can essentially be in 2 places at once and be reached at any moment. These advancements have made our lives very convenient and accessible, but there are also setbacks such as a lack of privacy, spam, dependence, and a skill based gap between the old and new ideas for efficiency.

The products of the digital native are not new ideas, but rather innovations of products that already exist. It promotes accessibility and convenience, but at a cost, the value of original and hard work is at a loss. Teachers use doc cams now instead of overhead projectors; the idea is still to project print and images on the board we just go about doing it in a "better" way. Rather than reading your local newspaper or subscribing to one magazine, websites now allow you to subscribe and archive any publication digitally at one location. Many aspects of our lives become routines making change difficult no matter what stage in life you are.

Digital immigrants influence, teach, and run the world, but they can't control the future. By definition a digital immigrant wasn't born in the digital age so they have their own knowledge and experience, but it might not pertain to the rapidly changing skills in the job market. I believe digital immigrants are not afraid of change, but feel threatened by the loss of their ways and obsolete media options such as cassettes, VHS, CDs, and DVDs. Schools are supposed to mirror society so we should prepare our students for the real opportunities they will have to support themselves after finishing college.

Digital Natives know how to speak the language of computers, video games, and the internet. Technology is implemented in every facet of their lives unless it is controlled by their parents or schools. Kids today need something stimulating and exciting to pique and keep their interest. Students are used to being bombarded with multiple tasks because they know the technology to help them manage it, but what skills are they not gaining by receiving so much assistance?

Integrating technology into the school curriculum will seamlessly help tie the importance of programming and computer skills. Many of the programs students use are on the internet, but it is important to teach the tools already on the computer such as MS Office, iMovie, and Adobe Creative Suite. Students have the need to stay "connected" so it is our job to link them to the right objectives and goals. Both digital natives and immigrants must compromise to ensure a positive productive world for the future.