- I prefer phone calls to text messages
- I was Myspace illiterate (back when everyone had myspace)
- I have a facebook account, but I can only stand to check it once or twice a month--all those "friends" make my nervous
- I still own and use a paper phone book
- I don't twit or tweet because I am incapable of expressing myself in 120 characters or less
- I don't read text-speak
- I don't keep a blog
- I resent that anyone can reach me at any time through my cell phone or email
I have felt like a stranger in a strange country...now I know that I am!
Seriously, though, the articles and videos that we were assigned opened my eyes to problems that I had not fully considered in the past. I knew that our children were growing up in a world that is markedly different from the one I grew up in, but I didn't consider how those differences affect learning. Nor did I consider the need for teaching methods that are conducive to this new world.
The question that struck me hardest is, "What does it mean to teach in the 21st century?" I thought I knew, until the slideshow effectively demonstrated that what is needed is an entire re-thinking and re-vamping of both teaching methods and outcomes.
As I processed what I learned, I began to ask, "How much of this applies to my students?" While the rest of the world may be enjoying their 21st century full-time digital lives, I am not so certain that we in American Samoa are quite there yet. The available technology limits how fully we can live in the digital world--this is true no matter how old you are. So, are our children still considered digital natives? Are they digital immigrants? Perhaps they are part-time natives, like Sherman Alexie's part-time Indian, shuttling back and forth between two cultures, being shaped by both, but ultimately belonging fully to neither.
Whatever the case may be, I now have this question to answer, "What does it mean to teach in American Samoa in the early 21st century?" I hope to discover the answer during this technology class.
Love your digital style blog design, ms peters. looks like you're one step closer.
ReplyDeletei agree that the "invasion" of the culture of technology is slower in american samoa. maybe that's to the teachers' advantage, they can acquire the language skills before, or along with their students. it's nice for the teacher to introduce these tools to students.
Hi Teri! I really like the organizational format of your first blog entry. :-) I too was a bit blind to the fact that in order to teach the "new generation" we would actually have to adapt our teaching style. This is the first time I have been aware of this shift in thinking and the articles and videos really cleared up a lot of the confusion and perhaps, disconnect I was experiencing with my students. Awesome insight, I enjoyed reading!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am glad the symptoms you have is exactly what I have. Thanks for your insights. I bet we are so far behind here in American Samoa. Our internet at school (e-rate) since the school year began. I thought I was doing well by sharing how to use google docs. I need to learn these things fast on top of the many responsibilities I have already.
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