Listening and Learning with Computers

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As I walked to the front of my ED 257A class (Teaching and Learning with Digital Media), I looked around at my fellow classmates and wondered how my presentation could compete with the 24-inch iMac computers in front of them. Not only were these computers physical barriers that separated students from the teacher or presenter, these computers were the gateway to information – why would the students listen to me when they could look up the same information in seconds on the Internet? I myself have fallen victim to the allure of the World Wide Web during class lectures and presentations. I’ll look up an article or two (or Wikipedia page) that describes what the teacher is talking about, read it, and then move on to more important things like checking email and responding to Facebook posts while the teacher continues talking at the front of the classroom.

I started my presentation with minimal expectations, and then something changed – I saw for the first time how technology is redefining education. My presentation was a critique of the social learning network for students and teachers, Edmodo. This website has a lot of promise for being an interactive learning environment that can supplement in-class learning or fuel learning outside of the classroom. During my presentation, some of my classmates were actually looking up toward the front of the class, but the rest were furiously typing and clicking away at their computers. I finished my presentation and asked if anyone had any questions – a student raised her hand and said she had just set up an Edmodo account and was wondering if she could create separate class groups. Another student had pulled up several articles about whether Edmodo “stole” the interface of Facebook and shared a summary of what he found. Three more students referenced articles they read or experiences they had using edmodo that all took place during my 15-minute presentation.

One student asked whether Edmodo had the capability of engaging students for countless hours every day in learning the way people spend 4+ hours on Facebook daily and this lead to an in depth discussion with my classmates finding articles online to support their argument.

This is learning 2.0. In a typical computer-less classroom, my classmates would watch my presentation and share a few thoughts (like “good job”). Some might even remember the website when they return home so they can check it out. But in a computer lab, my classmates were taking what I was showing and researching, trying out things, and sharing their experiences. The questions and discussions were in-depth and people even cited various resources.

The next student started presenting another online tool. I looked up the tool on my computer in seconds and then moved on to checking my email….I had 4 new Edmodo “friend” requests…from my classmates (they listened!). Presentation – success!

A Doctoral Discussion about Education

I have to say that I am very impressed with the faculty at UC Santa Barbara. The classes that I have taken have taught me new ways to look at and think about things. The readings, in-class discussions, and opportunities to present make classes interactive, enjoyable, and applicable to real life.

So what I have a learned thus far? 
Here’s a recap (I’m writing this to get a better grasp of where my research is heading and to share some thoughts with you – I’d love to hear your thoughts/advice/etc… as well!):

U.S. Education 

• K-12 education in the US was primarily developed during the Industrial Revolution to provide factory workers with basic skills for working on an assembly line. 
• The K-12 education system is still using this model today – the teacher is the expert, the students must learn all of the knowledge bestowed upon them, creativity and innovation are not recognized, and students, regardless of ability and knowledge, are grouped by age and sent from one grade level to the next 
• Think about this, if a surgeon from the 1800’s were to walk into an operating room today, would she be able to perform an operation? No… If a teacher from the 1800’s were to walk into a classroom today, she could still perform the relatively same job tasks with ease. 

The U.S. Education system would be fine if the goal was to prepare students for jobs that only require the ability to perform one task over and over without thinking.

However, today’s employers are looking for individuals that can think critically, analyze problems, develop creative solutions, and collaborate on multidisciplinary projects with individuals around the world.

How do we address the disconnect between education and the working world? 

Learning 2.0
Web 1.0 refers to the early days in the Internet era where websites were used like encyclopedias and only a few users controlled all of the content. Web 2.0 is the shift from the Internet as a place for people to find information to a collaborative, global atmosphere where users create, mix, mash-up, design, produce, and share content through social media sites.

Education needs to evolve from a place where teachers are the experts that stand in front of the classroom and lecture to an area where students can shape their own learning. Students can find answers to pretty much everything online (Wolfram Alpha has step-by-step instructions for solving advanced calculus problems). So why should they have to go to school and sit in a classroom when instead they could research what they need to know on the Internet in seconds?

To engage students in learning, teachers need to tap into the students’ knowledge and expertise. What do students bring to the classroom? How can they use their knowledge and skills to advance their learning? Why assign an essay when a student who has taught herself how to develop iPod apps could turn in an app instead? Why not give students an advanced problem, let them use whatever tools they want to devise a solution, and see what they come up with?

As Socrates said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Education is about inspiring lifelong learning. Teachers that design practical, real world learning experiences, allow for creativity, use tools that students are familiar with (i.e., Web 2.0), and are willing to forgo being the expert to encourage students’ interests and passions are the teachers who are truly preparing students for success in the 21st century.

There’s No Silver Bullet 
If I’ve learned one thing so far, it’s that there is no silver bullet that will magically solve all of the problems in education. Throwing money at a problem will not fix it. Buying iPads for every student won’t increase test scores if teachers don’t know how to use iPads to improve learning. Market-based reforms, charter schools, merit pay for standardized test scores all increase competition but none of these have shown to improve learning any more than public schools.

The Solution
It all starts with the teachers. Teachers are amazing! Teachers have the capacity to create a Learning 2.0 environment that inspires lifelong learning and prepares students to excel in college and beyond. However, teachers must be willing to change their teaching style and stop teaching to the test. They also need more support and the freedom to be creative…This is a discussion that will be saved for a later date.

Those are my thoughts for now. Here are some excellent books to read that touch upon some of the topics I addressed above:

Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative – Ken Robinson

The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education – Diane Ravitch

Language and Learning in the Digital Age – Gee & Hayes