PLN



media type="custom" key="12225800" 1. I think that creating a PLN such as this one meets the standards for educators because it allows them to share and gain information from many resources and link them all to one page. It makes a nice and easy one stop page that has all of the information. 2. I learned how to shorten URL's which is extremely helpful and less overwhelming. I also learned how to somewhat use twitter and for educational purposes. I was very bias to twitter but now have a better understanding that it can be used for educational purposes. I also learned how to use google reader, which I have found to be an amazing resource! 3. I have found that these steps can make searching information less overwhelming.

2/15/2012 1. I agree with the Prensky articles. In working in a current classroom as an aide, I can appreciate many of the ideas that Prensky discusses. I liked how he pointed out that the older generation teachers are looking at the digital natives and not understanding why they do not react like previous students. The articles explain how digital natives enjoy preferred tasks such as cell phones, computers, and video games. Most of technology allows us to have an instant gratification. When a teacher gives a thirty minute lecture before getting to the point of the lesson, the digital native students have already been drifting their minds to other things. I can find myself often in this situation. I will be sitting in class listening to a lecture and the professor asks a posing question at the beginning and then takes the remaining class period to describe the answer to the question. It is very unrealistic in today's world. Yes, the teacher may have personal experience to add to the lecture but I find myself learning better from looking up the question and finding the summarized answer. It allows me to retain the useful parts and discard the other parts immediately. I also enjoyed how Prensky explained the new generation as being foreigners with a thick accent. That is a great way to explain how the older generation must be feeling. 2. As I begin to think of the characteristics in my first year of teaching, it is somewhat difficult to imagine. I can imagine the students in our classroom now and attempt to relate that to future students in a few years. The students will most likely be fluent on cell phones, computers, tablets, mp3 players, video games, and whatever other new devices come out from now until then. As Prensky had discussed, students are motivated by the instant information they receive from technology. They enjoy technology and it should be used to help engage them, especially in non-preferred subjects. The so called twenty first century skills are changing every day because the current technology continues to improve and change. Along with the current technology, people are developing new technology also. The skills are changing to the advancements. I believe that the tools and resources of the internet help link teachers to helpful ways to manage different types of students. For example, just this wikkispace had linked me to multiple readings, videos, and web pages to look at the 21st century learners. I would hope that this technology will only expand and get better within a few years when I will be teaching. It has created a sense of hope that help is out there to manage learning techniques of future generations. The Ted talk discussed just that point, that the changes in the future are unpredictable and how are we supposed to be prepared for something we cannot predict? The answer, use your creativity and resources! 3.21st century skills Critical Thinking- Collaboration- google reader, blogger Creativity -pintrest, Communication- email, skype, text messaging