Hole in the Wall
October 23, 2007I was quite intrigued by that piece. It goes to show that kids are eager to learn and have a tremendous innate ability to learn what is presented to them. It harkens the idea that “if you build it they will come.”
What will they learn when just given the tool with no guidance? Does it matter? As teachers we think it matters what they learn as much as what they learn from. If presented with a hammer, does it matter if students build houses or beat each other to a bloody pulp with it.
I think the value of ICT is just as much (or more) of the point of using ICT. The point of this course is of course to use as much technology as we can to develop a use. But being teachers, and as I have commented on and others have commented on, we try to seek value in what we are doing.
In any case I am going to try to take off my philosophers hat for a while and concentrate only on the tools and the collaboration part as much as I can. I think once the course is done we will have more time for reflection. I found myself wondering why too much and not just gettin’ ‘er done.
LwICT for K-8 has a final goal on ICT immersed in the classroom so that when teachers and students are in class they will use the ICT tools naturally for the learning and projects that they have to do. That would be on a just-in-time or need-to-know basis. The imagination runs wild with all these tools available. But another part of LwICT address your point re guidance as they are expected to assume the responsibility for the ethical use of ICT. Interestingly enough even at the far end of the chart, Grade 8-Adult, there is no expectation that all people will have mastered the ethical use of ICT.
I agree with you Dave. I have spent a lot of time perusing people’s blogs and adding comments when appropriate. The problem is I have not spent much time using the tools that people have suggested.
It takes time to do both and I have struggled with the balance. Hopefully, I can generate some more “results” that will help me, my students, and our classmates!