Week 1 - Posting #2 - Learning 2.0

When I think of learning, I think about students and all the vast information that they need to learn in order to pass standardized tests and pass on to the next grade level. I don't think about cell phones or texting.  However, after watching a few videos about learning 2.0, I realized that learning in school is only a small fraction of where learning is taking place for today's students.  One video that I watched,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw&feature=player_embeddedshowed the statistics for how much time the average student is spending reading, texting, gaming, watching TV and being on the computer or Internet.  I was shocked.  

The video also discussed ways we could use tools the students are already using, such as iphones, to give assignments.  This would allow us to teach students in a way that would engage them and encourage them to create something meaningful.  The assignment gave students 10 minutes to find out information from 5 different people via text message with extra credit given for responses from people that were out of the country.  Then the video went on to list ways this information could be used to teach a wide variety of subjects and ideas.  It was wonderful.  And it made me think of all the times I had argued with students and battled over cellphone use, all the time wasted, just to get students to leave their cell phones at home or at least hidden from view.  What if more teachers created meaningful lessons using cellphones? 

I must admit, I used to hate cellphones and really get angry when I saw a student with a cell phone.  I looked down on parents who would pay good money to provide their children with cell phones that had Internet to students with poor academic grades.  Now, I must admit, I am slowly beginning to "learn" that cellphones could be used in a good way inside the classroom.  

Also, another video that I wanted to share was a TED video with Howard Rheingold, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tahTKdEUAPk, he talks about people getting educated out of creativity ... that children are born with extraordinary talents and capacities for creativity.  That kids are willing to take chances whereas adults are afraid to be wrong.  He stated, If you are not prepared to be wrong, you won't come up with anything original.  As sad as that sounds, I think he is right.  Learning 2.0 not only applies to students, it applies to adults who are given that task of teaching them as well.  

We must learn a new way of thinking ourselves before we can engage our students.  We must radically rethink our understanding of intelligence.  Share this video with other educators in your school and see what they think?  Brainstorm ways to bring creativity back inside the classroom.  Rheingold said he was writing a book about how people discovered their talents ... conduct a survey with staff and see what their talents are and have a talent show?  Do the same with students?  How many of us know what talents our students have?  What if we have the next Shakespeare or writer of Phantom of the Opera in our classroom?  We have the opportunity to help guide them in a direction that will help them blossom or, not.  It is up to us and how well we learn about our students and what is important to them that matters.  Can we show them how to use that knowledge to help them build skills that produce meaningful creativity?  Or will we ignore what makes them unique in order to maintain order and control in our classrooms?  I will start by embracing cell phones as a viable tool for learning.  What will you do?