21st Generation Learners by Jessica Kauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom An explanation of generational learnering and the effects of technology in the classroom. en-us 2018-10-17 19:33:05 UTC 2018-10-17 19:49:08 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Apple.png Welcome back! jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294074916  
Welcome back for Miss. Kauffman’s blog post #2!

Today we will be focusing on teaching generationally. The Info Savvy group, which is branched out of British Columbia, Canada, wrote a series of articles called Strategies for Engaging the Digital Generation. The article we will be focusing on today is, “Understanding Digital Kids II”. The article discusses the effects of new technology in the classroom and finding better and more effective ways to use old and new techniques for beginning or veteran teachers.


]]> 2018-10-17 19:41:01 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294074916 In conclusion... jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075624 After reading and understanding this article, there was one question that really stood out in my mind for how we were to go forward as a teaching generation: What are the ways we intend to compromise our learning culture in the classroom? Are we going to lose sight of the hardworking, but slower way of learning, or are we going to push too far back on new learning styles and leave our classrooms with the basic learning styles of the 1960s?  

]]> 2018-10-17 19:42:42 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075624 Point #1 jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075862 One of the points that stuck out to me when reading this article is that if we expect older generations to respect our new techniques and classroom styles, we must respect and honor where they came from. They were the generation of searching for hours and understanding delayed gratification through large papers. Our current generation can write whole papers from computer sources only and understand how to find online sources correctly. Although teachers of today might feel outnumbered and out of luck for when it comes to educating today's generations, we can prepare ourselves to share our wisdom for things that students do not acquire. If we, as teachers, investigate resources that can turn social media and other technology into tools instead of hindrances, we can find the middle ground that education has been looking for. 

]]> 2018-10-17 19:43:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075862 Point #2 jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075951 Moving on, my next point is that we need to “shift our instruction to more of an emphasis on discovery learning”. The articles talk a lot about teaching our students about becoming independent thinkers and learners. This means that instead of giving “full-frontal” lectures, we encourage students to go out and research topics and see what they discover and what they find interesting about it. This allows for critical thinking to form and if we start this at younger grades like kindergarten and other elementary grades, it can be molded throughout their K-12 education from all different perspectives and opinions. As the writer of the article puts it, we need to “teach lazy” and allow them to think on their own.

]]> 2018-10-17 19:43:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294075951 Point #3 jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076299 My final point that I found interesting about the article is that “assessment and evaluation must be used as more than tools of measurement”. Growing up in a school system where the teacher’s salary and the students worth as academics are determined by certain subjects and testing grades, it can be very disheartening to go to some classes and try. This results in class time being tough on the student and the teacher. Also, the student only looking for the right answers to pass. The student does not want to be involved in the learning process for the fun of learning anymore, they only care about passing. We need to leave room for our students to have a margin of error. They are going to mess up and struggle, but instead of that hurting their grade, let’s meet them where they are at as their guide, and look over what they might not understand. We should be showing them that comprehending through being able to apply the content is more important than only being able to understand the content.

]]> 2018-10-17 19:44:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076299 Breaking down the argument jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076457 After reading this article, there were two obvious sides. There was the side of teachers pulling toward using older, more traditional techniques for teaching in the classroom and then the other was the group of teachers working toward using new techniques which includes using today’s technology and resources in the classroom. A pro to using older techniques is understanding and respecting the culture of books and the tool that they truly are, but a con is not moving forward in the world if we focus only on using older techniques, which can result in not teaching as effectively. For using the newer techniques, a pro could be being on top of the growing world of technology in the classroom and making learning more interactive and fun for upcoming generations. Although this sounds great, a con for teaching this way could result in a loss of flexibility if computers are down, or just a love for researching through paper sources.]]> 2018-10-17 19:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076457 Thesis Statement jeskauffman https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076588 Generations are beginning to clash in the classroom as a new age of technology is being brought behind desks. Older techniques of standardized testing, deferred gratification, and slowly released information are being met with parallel processing and only learning what is useful and relevant to today's day and age. Educators are frantically searching to find a middle ground with a healthy balance of cultures.]]> 2018-10-17 19:45:22 UTC https://padlet.com/jeskauffman/misskauffmansclassroom/wish/294076588