Comments on: Where are the adults? http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/where-are-the-adults-2/ The blog of the Head of School at Poughkeepsie Day School Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:49:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: admin http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/where-are-the-adults-2//comment-page-1#comment-252 admin Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:36:20 +0000 http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/?p=2686#comment-252 Thanks for the comment Denise. And thanks for the Will Richardson reference. He always has something useful to contribute. I see it as an unparalleled opportunity to sit next to, parallel with, those born digital children and learn together. For decades we have talked and talked about the role of the teacher as facilitator and coach. Here is our chance - to help make learning happen for both ourselves and our students. And Hamster for all our access to these tools - we will always need to use our own minds to make the decisions. It's just that we no longer need them purely to memorize but rather to evaluate, synthesize and put new information and ideas out there. And the first decision may be to pick up the calculator in the first place because we understand there is a worthwhile problem that needs solving. - Josie Thanks for the comment Denise. And thanks for the Will Richardson reference. He always has something useful to contribute.

I see it as an unparalleled opportunity to sit next to, parallel with, those born digital children and learn together. For decades we have talked and talked about the role of the teacher as facilitator and coach. Here is our chance – to help make learning happen for both ourselves and our students.

And Hamster for all our access to these tools – we will always need to use our own minds to make the decisions. It’s just that we no longer need them purely to memorize but rather to evaluate, synthesize and put new information and ideas out there. And the first decision may be to pick up the calculator in the first place because we understand there is a worthwhile problem that needs solving.

- Josie

]]> By: Denise Herrenbruck http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/where-are-the-adults-2//comment-page-1#comment-251 Denise Herrenbruck Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:55:24 +0000 http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/?p=2686#comment-251 Yes, "Where are the adults?" is such an important question when considering the new technology that children are using! Will Richardson, an expert on networked learning, wrote: "This may be the first large technological shift in history that's being driven by children. Picture a bus. Your students are standing in the front; most teachers (maybe even you) are in the back, hanging on to the seat straps as the bus careens down the road under the guidance of kids who have never been taught to steer and who are figuring it out as they go." Richardson, Will. "Footprints in the Digital Age" Educational Leadership, Nov 2008, Vol 66:3 http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/nov08/vol66/num03/Footprints_in_the_Digital_Age.aspx I agree that it is important that we adults work our way up to the front of the bus! Yes, “Where are the adults?” is such an important question when considering the new technology that children are using!

Will Richardson, an expert on networked learning, wrote:

“This may be the first large technological shift in history that’s being driven by children. Picture a bus. Your students are standing in the front; most teachers (maybe even you) are in the back, hanging on to the seat straps as the bus careens down the road under the guidance of kids who have never been taught to steer and who are figuring it out as they go.”

Richardson, Will. “Footprints in the Digital Age” Educational Leadership, Nov 2008, Vol 66:3
http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/nov08/vol66/num03/Footprints_in_the_Digital_Age.aspx

I agree that it is important that we adults work our way up to the front of the bus!

]]> By: Hamsterfree? http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/where-are-the-adults-2//comment-page-1#comment-245 Hamsterfree? Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:19:55 +0000 http://www.pdscompasspoint.com/?p=2686#comment-245 It seems to me that both adults (children with more years experience) and children have their contributions to make. Those with the skills assisting others to gain them - as most likely happened to Edith Skipper. Younger generations have been taught tech skills at school, as we were once taught maths tables and grammar for example.Adults need to make time to acquire them. But it seems many will as they use them daily in their work, financial,community and personal lives.And skills will grow as benefits become known.Not many people now push a calculator aside for doing maths - although it is always good to ensure you also use your own mind too. It seems to me that both adults (children with more years experience) and children have their contributions to make. Those with the skills assisting others to gain them – as most likely happened to Edith Skipper. Younger generations have been taught tech skills at school, as we were once taught maths tables and grammar for example.Adults need to make time to acquire them. But it seems many will as they use them daily in their work, financial,community and personal lives.And skills will grow as benefits become known.Not many people now push a calculator aside for doing maths – although it is always good to ensure you also use your own mind too.

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