Wow guys! It's been awhile since I last posted, a lot has gone on since then. The Partnering Pedagogy assignment was a lot of work, but it was great. I got to make some new friends and they helped bare the load of all the work. I enjoy being able to collaborate with my fellow classmates.
The Digital Natives book was fantastic. I learned a lot and there is a lot I can take away after reading it. I know this is something I am GOING to do in my future classroom. Yes, it will take time but it will be worth it.
The most important thing I learned from all of this is that we are creating the leaders of tomorrow. We need to teach them new innovative ways to learn and explore. Sometimes the student may teach the teacher a thing or two about technology, and that's okay!
I really liked the break down of what is to be taught and how it should be taught.(Nouns & Verbs)
Overall, this was a great assignment and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to my new pals that helped make our wiki Rockin'.
Peace out for now,
Mrs. Davis
Here are my personal thoughts from the book:
In my opinion, this was a very in-depth book on the perspective of partnering. I agree with Prensky in that our world is changing fast and the education system needs to keep up. Students are not like they used to be, neither are teachers. We are both innovators and want to excel in every way we can. It is important for our society that we teach our students in new ways; not forgetting but improving. We aren’t just preparing our students for the next grade or the next test, we are preparing our students to be the leaders of tomorrow. It is also important that we not only teach our students what the curriculum requires but how to collaborate with one another. In order to be successful in partnering and in the workforce, students must thrive in group settings.
I think partnering is a great idea! Unfortunately, there are many “old school” teachers who feel the old way is best. It is our job as new teachers to kindly and respectfully show the teachers and communities just how well partnering works. It is amazing that students get to take charge of their own learning. Teachers are the facilitators, while students get to explore and learn in a whole new light. I think personal connection is key, students tend to relate better to things they care about. It is important to remember that this is something that will take time getting into. Hopefully, taking this class will give me a jump start on learning how to teach in a partnering environment. I am glad I read this book and it has offered great insight into the future of education.