I realise now now hopefully outdated this blog has become but with Christmas around the corner and so much to refine I anticipate it will remain so until at least January. However I choose not to feel too guilty as the blog remains of great relevance for me as a documentation of my thoughts and clarification of learning post PLENK.
For the moment I will concentrate on something a little easier - including some topical not necessarily PLENK related discoveries. Stumbled upon Be Very Afraid, the brainchild of Professor Stephen Heppell, an event which connected students from all over the UK to showcase incredible ICT related projects. You can also listen to Stephen's insights at the Virtual Staffroom which is a wonderful repository of podcasts with predominantly Australian educators.
Of course these presentations are the products of true 'digital natives' a term touted by Marc Prensky to be the norm rather than the exception, a perception I strongly challenge. I believe I am in good company, not a lone voice in the wilderness, supported by Jamie McKenzie's article Digital Nativism Digital Delusions and Digital Deprivation the Accidental Pedagogy blog and well attested by Chris Betcher's personal experience with his students in his post "The Myth Of The Digital Native" on his Betchablog. Chris's post inspired some wonderfully insightful responses from his readers. The somewhat churlish response of Prensky to Chris's tweet re a Prensky presentation is interesting to say the least.
Now, as to who should be very afraid ?
2. Executive staff in schools and institutions who with a wave of the hand dismiss the Web2.0 and Web3.0 reality as easily as they would a spider web outside the entrance to their homes
3. Students whose ICT proficiency and esecurity is placed at risk by mundane resources, trusting parents, squandered budgets and outdated instructional methods
What is needed is a substantial dose of enthusiasm for transformative change as espoused by Karl Fisch and this seems to be more feasible if bonds can be forged by like minded 'compulsive learners' and spread through a 'meganetwork' a network of vibrant Personal Learning Networks
Of course these presentations are the products of true 'digital natives' a term touted by Marc Prensky to be the norm rather than the exception, a perception I strongly challenge. I believe I am in good company, not a lone voice in the wilderness, supported by Jamie McKenzie's article Digital Nativism Digital Delusions and Digital Deprivation the Accidental Pedagogy blog and well attested by Chris Betcher's personal experience with his students in his post "The Myth Of The Digital Native" on his Betchablog. Chris's post inspired some wonderfully insightful responses from his readers. The somewhat churlish response of Prensky to Chris's tweet re a Prensky presentation is interesting to say the least.
Now, as to who should be very afraid ?
I would suggest:
1. Parents of students whose teachers are complacent and rely on system generated professional development to maintain professional credibility.2. Executive staff in schools and institutions who with a wave of the hand dismiss the Web2.0 and Web3.0 reality as easily as they would a spider web outside the entrance to their homes
3. Students whose ICT proficiency and esecurity is placed at risk by mundane resources, trusting parents, squandered budgets and outdated instructional methods
What is needed is a substantial dose of enthusiasm for transformative change as espoused by Karl Fisch and this seems to be more feasible if bonds can be forged by like minded 'compulsive learners' and spread through a 'meganetwork' a network of vibrant Personal Learning Networks
No comments:
Post a Comment