Thing 5_21st Century

I may be in a little different situation, because I try to teach these tools in my classes. However, the great part about doing this online course, is that I'm still getting more and more ideas. For example. When I was one of the slideshows, it led me to ToonDoo. It's an amazing site where students can create cartoons and publish them on the web or embed them into a blog. I think I might use it tomorrow.

When I think about my high school experience, which wasn't that long ago, it's changed dramatically. We were just starting to get computers in homes and use the internet for research. We did have computer labs, but they were for word processing, and the basics. Now, when I look at what I teach, it amazes me how much more there is to teach!! We still teach the word processing and spreadsheets, but at the same time try to incorporate it into the Web 2.0 world. For example, instead of using excel, use google docs and colloborate with other students on the spreadsheet.

I think the biggest problem, and Marc Prensky puts it so plainly, is that we are the Digital Immigrants, and they (our students) are the natives. All of this technology and 2.0 tools are so overwhelming to us, but to them its all they know.

I think our job is to make sure they are using these tools appropiately and that we are incorporating our content into their language and their way of thinking.