So, as a high school band director, I work with teenagers on a regular basis. My favorite line from them is, "Why are you yelling at me?" This is a favorite BECAUSE I love their interpretation. I love the way they believe one reality, when truly there's another reality that could be (me REALLY yelling at them). I have a naturally loud voice, and to get their attention, I crank it up every so often. But it's not yelling.
The PERCEPTION of what we do though, sometimes becomes a reality for students. To my point - if all we ever do is lecture, have them fill out worksheets (even if it's on a computer!!!) and regurgitate information, what will they perceive as reality? Is this the true reality of our world? OF COURSE NOT. How do we move into creating the reality for kids that they need? How do we give them the tools and guidance they need to be the thinkers/learners/doers that the world is requiring? There are many ways to do this, and as beginners (just like my sixth grade band students that started learning to play an instrument two weeks ago) we must move a little at a time, paying attention to the details and working to get a little bit better every day. Incorporate one lesson with a technology based process. Have them use their cell phones to help answer a deeper thinking question. Give them license to use the different applications they may know about (and we don't - YET) to work out the challenges we present. That's where the process begins. And YOU and THEY will perceive this world differently, and the reality they live in class becomes more aligned with the reality of the world we are pushing them into after their high school education.
Listen - I'm a middle level technology user - I do a lot of reading, asking and experimenting. Sometimes with the students alongside me, and even sometimes with my own children! The most important thing for us to do as educators is to move (even if it's baby steps!) in the direction that gives our students the tools and knowledge to be what they should be when they walk out of our doors into our world.
NOW GO AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE THE REALITY FOR OUR KIDS.
And by the way, I wasn't yelling....
