When tech teaches, what do teacher do?
When I talk to students these days they tell me when they want to learn something they're interested in, it usually is not teachers or parents they turn to. It’s Google, YouTube, or to others they find online (aka their PLN) who engage in their activities of interest.
These kids aren’t just playing on the computer either. They mean serious business. Teen Jack Andraka turned to Google when doing his research that led to his discovery of a new screening for pancreatic cancer. Teens like Courtney Gressman and Alex Laubscher are building networks using social media to pursue their passions and do work that matters to them and others. Not only does access to the internet provide limitless access to resources but tools like the iPad (or other tablets) also change with the needs of the user. One device can transform into a piano, drawing canvas, book, publishing press, or whatever a student wants it to be... on demand.
This has come up in my world recently when a parent confess to me that she was unsure of her ability to support her child's learning away from school. It was easy to put her mind at. We simply discussed what her child wants to learn, and then determine available resources for learning.
To follow is a possible curriculum via tablet, customized to one student’s passions and abilities:
This has come up in my world recently when a parent confess to me that she was unsure of her ability to support her child's learning away from school. It was easy to put her mind at. We simply discussed what her child wants to learn, and then determine available resources for learning.
To follow is a possible curriculum via tablet, customized to one student’s passions and abilities:
Reading
Does your child want to learn to read? There are great research-proven apps out there like Footsteps 2 Brilliance. The books are interactive and give children instant feedback on their reading progress. They’re also smart, increasing with complexity as your child masters basic reading skills.
Writing
Does your child love writing, let them create their own self-illustrated books which they can publish and share with an audience using an app like StoryKit.
Physics
Give your child a primer on how gravity and momentum affect objects in motion with Angry Birds Space. A great feature of this version of Angry Birds is a link to a NASA website, a rich resource with educational links and videos about gravity and the International Space Station.
Music, Art, Geography
Want to help your child learn piano? The tablet can become a piano accompanied with a tutor with an app like Learn Piano on the iPad or Piano Teacher on Android.
Does your child love art? Great. There are numerous high-quality and inexpensive apps to choose from. Here’s a list of five from LifeHacker. Once creations are made they can Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: When tech teaches, what do teacher do?:
Music, Art, Geography
Want to help your child learn piano? The tablet can become a piano accompanied with a tutor with an app like Learn Piano on the iPad or Piano Teacher on Android.
Does your child love art? Great. There are numerous high-quality and inexpensive apps to choose from. Here’s a list of five from LifeHacker. Once creations are made they can Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: When tech teaches, what do teacher do?: