ERIC Number: EJ773289
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Jun
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-6728
EISSN: N/A
Banning Student "Containers": Education Is Digging in Its Heels against Students' Personal Tools
November, Alan
Technology & Learning, v27 n11 p24 Jun 2007
It is ironic that in too many schools, educators label students' personal tools or digital containers, such as blogs, iPod, Instant Messenger, YouTube, and video games as hindrances to teaching. They have decided that these effective learning tools are inappropriate for school and learning. If educators could get past their fear of the unknown and embrace the very tools they are blocking (which are also essential tools for the global economy) then they could build much more motivating and rigorous learning environments. They would also have an opportunity to teach the ethics and the social responsibility that accompany the use of such powerful tools. As they provide their students with models of how to use their digital containers for learning, the role of the teacher will be more crucial than ever. The fact remains that these tools can be a major distraction from learning or they can be a major catalyst to it. It will be the courageous educator who works with students to explore the power of these tools and in turn empowers students to be lifelong learners and active shapers of a world they cannot yet imagine.
Descriptors: Global Approach, Video Games, Social Responsibility, Ethics, Electronic Publishing, Visual Aids, Web Sites, Lifelong Learning, Educational Environment, Student Motivation, Teacher Role, Electronic Equipment, Electronic Classrooms, Mass Media Use
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A