The main lesson I took from our first session was the fact that students today use technology a lot more than their teachers did growing up. Instead of just pointing out this information, we have to utilize this information and bring technology into the classroom. Since our students are so in tune with the internet, social networking, podcasts, etc., why not use this to help engage their learning? Instead of continuing to use old methods, we need to be innovative in our approach in the classroom. Classroom blogs and websites are a great way to post classroom assignments and be a discussion board for class topics. Having students create podcasts takes advantage of the portability of information. The possibilities are endless when technology is effectively utilized in the classroom.
I agree that it's a good idea to use digital tools and social networks to engage students in meaningful learning activities. Students are already interested in these applications, and know how to use them for non-educational purposes. Using them for education can open a whole new world for many, who haven't even considered the possibility that technology can be used for teaching and learning.
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