Comments on: Do we really need to teach digital skills? http://digitalecologist.com/do-we-really-need-to-teach-digital-skills/ thoughts, raves and hypertext about the digital ecosystem we live in Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:58:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Adriana http://digitalecologist.com/do-we-really-need-to-teach-digital-skills/#comment-74 Adriana Wed, 21 May 2008 01:57:30 +0000 http://gilminer.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-74 amayala, I agree, technology (specially communications technology) should just be a tool for a bigger objective, not just the end all. And it seems to me liek kids can just learn it more organically than what adults seem to conceive. I'm by no means an education expert, but lately I've been involved in some efforts around digital learning. My initial observation of what I've seen in the field is institutions (higher-ed ones) creating a ton of videos/powerpoint tutorials that don't necessarily make it into the classroom in an integrated fashion and as part of the core curriculum. But I understand changing the way teachers teach in schools is a huge undertake, so this may all be too early to know. amayala,

I agree, technology (specially communications technology) should just be a tool for a bigger objective, not just the end all. And it seems to me liek kids can just learn it more organically than what adults seem to conceive.

I’m by no means an education expert, but lately I’ve been involved in some efforts around digital learning. My initial observation of what I’ve seen in the field is institutions (higher-ed ones) creating a ton of videos/powerpoint tutorials that don’t necessarily make it into the classroom in an integrated fashion and as part of the core curriculum. But I understand changing the way teachers teach in schools is a huge undertake, so this may all be too early to know.

]]> By: amayala http://digitalecologist.com/do-we-really-need-to-teach-digital-skills/#comment-73 amayala Mon, 19 May 2008 20:19:40 +0000 http://gilminer.wordpress.com/?p=82#comment-73 Technological programs are basically student-driven. The focus of a digital learning curriculum is that students simply have more than one way to show learning. Instead of writing a book report on a lined sheet of paper, they could be writing a book review on a blog site instead. It is just a matter of preparing them for "real writing" that people are now using on a daily basis--writing that still takes place outside of school and is relevant. Basically, many people from my generation learned computer skills in an exploratory fashion, without silly CD tutorials, etc. Technology should be integrated in ways that support the standards that you are already trying to achieve, not just sticking in a CD-Rom and using Powerpoint in your lectures to students instead of an overhead projector. Technological programs are basically student-driven. The focus of a digital learning curriculum is that students simply have more than one way to show learning. Instead of writing a book report on a lined sheet of paper, they could be writing a book review on a blog site instead. It is just a matter of preparing them for “real writing” that people are now using on a daily basis–writing that still takes place outside of school and is relevant. Basically, many people from my generation learned computer skills in an exploratory fashion, without silly CD tutorials, etc. Technology should be integrated in ways that support the standards that you are already trying to achieve, not just sticking in a CD-Rom and using Powerpoint in your lectures to students instead of an overhead projector.

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