"Confusion disguised as development"
An often overlooked caveat of the teaching profession is that its constantly evolving. Whatever lesson, idea, delivery method, or instructional strategy that was used one year isn't necessarily relevant the following year. More specifically, effective teacher's are searching for useful ways to monitor, connect, and capture efficiency. Teachers are constantly adapting their educational services to fit the early stages of digital era.
Over the past 10 years, there are two specific educational strategies that have grown in popularity. The first being Data-Driven instruction and the second is obviously Online Learning. Both of these academic approaches are wrapped up in the fact that - just like the automobile - almost everyone possesses a smart phone of some kind and that online classes are perceived as cheaper and more convenient. This may or may not be true, but the one truth that keeps resurfacing in my classes are as follows:
"Authentic Learning takes time and all human behavior was not meant to be recorded and measured."
This school year, students are fighting through their confusion, habits, and misconceptions about their personal technologies. Convincing adolescence that their smart phones, tablets, and laptops are tools for comprehension and not simply machines of shallow entertainment is not an easy leap. It may take awhile for students to rewire their ideas and habits surrounding their personal technologies.
The majority of our struggling students don't look down at their phones and say: "Hey, I've got to send an email to my Math Teacher." Today's high school freshman were born in 2001-2002, which means they know not of a world without Snapchat, Facebook, Kik, or Instagram. Introducing them to a world of email, pdf.files, and shared calendars is highly confusing.
In short, it takes time for the "entertainment" perception of technology to be shaken. The modern student should learn to stop worrying and love the "smart" in the smartphone.
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