Wow - First of all I have never "downloaded" a book to read off of the computer. I have to say...it really was neat. A very nice experience. Maybe I will look into a Kindle or something.
I liked the chapters in this book. I feel they provided both the good and bad about on-line learning. In the first chapter they talk about how the community of the on-line class can be engaging if designed correctly. I once took a class at UNH and it was on-line. I did not mine the class at all, but I never had any interaction with other students. I watched videos of the professor and just submitted my assignments. To me this is not a "community" at all. I like how this class is run. By posting to our classmates blogs, we get a chance to communicate with them. In the chapters on VLC, it speaks how important it is to develop the "community" within the class. I agree with this.
It is great that they spent time researching VLC. In the chapter they tell us they did not have trouble finding these types of environments. Whenever I have thought of VLC I was not thinking of some of the examples that they gave. "gamers, do- it-yourselfers and or famlies..just to name a few. I honestly was thinking more of the traditional classroom, or on-line environment. I like the point that tells us people naturally want to connect with others. VLC give people a chance to do this, in at a level that is mind blowing.
The lessons to educators really hit home to me. To trust that learners will make good decisions for themselves about their learning. Wow..This is what we want right? As a teacher you want your students to develop their own learning. But, it can be hard to kinda give up that control. Or feel that we are giving something up. The plus side is that when we do we build a relationship with our students that is based on "trust". Trust that they will make good decisions and trust that they will be working on "their learning". Another plus, is that with technology it really does allow students to work at their own level. Whatever that level is.
What we have to realize is that VLC are not going away. They can be small, just a group of students in your classroom working together on a project, they can be large or some place in the middle. This is the "turf" that our students today want to work in. These are "tech" kids. We will always have the plus side and the negative side. As teachers we need to develop our lessons to include technology that can create a positive learning environment.
Maureen, I agree with you about students living in a new era with a new skill set that we did not have growing up. The "tech" piece of their lives is incredibly massive. Their lives revolve around technology! I have been working hard to talk to other teachers about how lessons need to be appropriate for the students being taught - we can not just teach with what we are comfortable doing. These students actually have a different way of learning and obtaining information than the previous generations, thus the big push for new ways of teaching. It is a challenge to have some of the seasoned teachers understand this, but they will either get on the technology train or get off. It is my hope that all teachers will hop aboard and get ready for these students with a whole new way of learning.
ReplyDelete"The plus side is that when we do we build a relationship with our students that is based on "trust". Trust that they will make good decisions and trust that they will be working on "their learning". Another plus, is that with technology it really does allow students to work at their own level." I just read a quick article today about opening day activities and social and emotional growth in the classroom. It is so much about trust. If the kids know they can trust you and you show them that you trust them, they want to do their best work. Social and Emotional Learning . I hope that our class is becoming a community. It is my vision, but after reading this VLC ebook, I do realize there is a reality to it as well.
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