Reading for 9/3/8

Some of the reading for tonight was too intense...my brain is slow to come back from summer. I don't know what it's doing, but it is not comprehending the written English word.

However, the Prensky article about digital natives/immigrants struck a chord with me. As I grew up there was always a new computer, video game, vcr, cd player. We were never the first to have these things, nor were ours the best, but we always had them early on. So I'm not really a digital immigrant, on the other hand technology moves so fast I don't really feel like a native either. My father is an 8th grade earth science teacher (for over 30 years) his classroom uses computers for interactive learning, videos for instruction and review. He created a way for his computer to "air" on the television in his classroom and that is where students get/got their assignments and the plans for the day. He's done this since the early 90s. He is a digital...mobilizer, I'd say he tries to be at the forefront of the movement. Heroworship aside that is the kind of class I believe students thrive in, a mix of digital technology and hands on real people work.

The most interesting thing in this article for me was the idea that students' brains are physically different now than when I was learning. When I think about the many students I've taught the past few years that would be one step in explaining the problems some of them have in class. I still don't think it is my job to entertain the class, but very likely there are things I haven't thought of that would reach these kids. I believe I need to go to the kids who are struggling and find out what kinds of things would appeal to them. I'm not sure there' s a lot I can do about it, but sometimes they still appreciate the effort.