I definitely agree with Dr. Wesch in that students need to become meaning makers. We are always talking about how we can access almost everything from anywhere in one device. Dr. Wesch points out that using technology is ridiculously easy to do but connecting is hard, if we do not connect, share, collaborate and publish, then using the internet is simply a one way conversation. It is not any different from being in the living room and watching television. So where are students going to learn how to connect, organize, share, collect, collaborate and publish? It is not going to happen in lecture halls where students have little opportunity to showcase their creativity. We need to change the culture of lecture halls where professors are presenting information and students are just listening and not actively engaged. As teachers, this change starts with us and hopefully this change becomes a global conversation that motivates professors to do things differently. It is important to remember that students learn from what they are doing, being knowledge-able is a practice. A practice that is going to help student know what they need for the test of life.
The “Free hugs” video, the virtual choir and the website created during the 2007 Kenyan election crisis are all inspiring. Technology gives us the tools to do the same, like the little bird in the “World on Fire” Aztec story. As teachers we can start by changing the way we teach, at first, maybe no one will notice but with time students, parents, and colleagues will become aware of the revolutionary teaching strategies. With the help of technology we can share and collaborate with teachers around the world. Maybe it is going to be in one of our classrooms where students will learn how to solve one of the many crises affecting our planet.
Wesch, M. (2010, October 12). TEDxKC-Michael Wesch-From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeaAHv4UTI8
The “Free hugs” video, the virtual choir and the website created during the 2007 Kenyan election crisis are all inspiring. Technology gives us the tools to do the same, like the little bird in the “World on Fire” Aztec story. As teachers we can start by changing the way we teach, at first, maybe no one will notice but with time students, parents, and colleagues will become aware of the revolutionary teaching strategies. With the help of technology we can share and collaborate with teachers around the world. Maybe it is going to be in one of our classrooms where students will learn how to solve one of the many crises affecting our planet.
Wesch, M. (2010, October 12). TEDxKC-Michael Wesch-From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeaAHv4UTI8