Ambitious is the first word that comes to mind when watching Michael Wesch's lecture, A Portal to Media Literacy. I can only wish that someday I will be able to incorporate his vision and energy into my own classroom.
Wesch stated that there is a "crisis of significance". Students today are not finding any meaning in their education. They only look at it as a grade and do not see how it is relevant to their own lives. I see this all the time when kids ask questions like, "Will this be graded?" I think it is important to make it relevant and important, but sometimes I feel like it is easier said than done.
Wesch created significance by helping students make meaningful connections to their education. His simulation game was quite simply amazing, to say the least. To get kids involved at that level and create such an intertwining activity for students to connect must have been arduous. As I watched it I immediately began to think, how do I begin to change my ways in the classroom to make it more meaningful for students?
Wesch said to begin you need to provide students with the big picture. Students need to see how everything connects, not only concept to concept, but concept to learner. Okay. Let's see. Life science... cells, atoms, chemical reactions, genetics, body systems... how do they all connect? They are all levels of organization to help living things do what they need to do so they can live, grow and reproduce. That seems too simplistic. Is that what he is talking about? Now I need to make it relevant to students. Any ideas?
The next step Wesch said is to provide students with a platform for participation and allow them to realize how tools can help them collaborate, create, analyze, etc. Why does it sound so easy but when you stop and think about it within your own classroom it seems a bit more complicated? How do you effectively let students explore, create, collaborate? How do you maintain structure and function in a middle school classroom while allowing students the freedom to explore? Sometimes I feel like this is a fine balance and I don't think I do the best at this balancing act. Michael Wesch certainly got my gears turning, and once it sinks in and settles I hope I have a better vision for the overarching theme to my own classroom.
You wrote, "The next step Wesch said is to provide students with a platform for participation and allow them to realize how tools can help them collaborate, create, analyze, etc. Why does it sound so easy but when you stop and think about it within your own classroom it seems a bit more complicated? How do you effectively let students explore, create, collaborate? How do you maintain structure and function in a middle school classroom while allowing students the freedom to explore?"
ReplyDeleteI am contemplating the same thing. I came away from that video with so many ideas that I need to pause and really consider what my first step will be. His portal is unbelievable and I would love to create something like that but I know that I have to start small and build it in and teach my high school students how to use it.
My hs students also require a fair amount of structure and I'm now thinking about what projects I can revise to give them more freedom of creation/collaboration using tools like photostory, google docs, and so forth.
On the one hand I feel as though I am so far behind on this stuff that I should completely transform my classroom overnight. On the other hand that is totally unrealistic between now and August 25th. I am going to map out each class/quarter and figure out which tool I can build into which assignment or project and take it one step at a time with the goal of having some sort of more elaborate "portal" in place for the following school year.
Kirsten and Amy I believe I understand your concerns. I question the phrase "Crisis of Significance" - I do think many of our students are not motivated. It is difficult for me to comment in detail because I can suspect the limitations/challenges you encounter, but I am not living them.
ReplyDeleteI do want to say that if I were teaching in a classroom I would want to find a "common denominator" something that would interest the majority of the class (another challenge I suspect you have-getting all students involved/motivated). The more I think about this, the more frustrated I become. The students of today are not like the students of even 5-10 years ago. I admire you both for your dedication, and I also feel hopeful because of your dedication.
I really have not said anything of importance, but I am inspired by the discussion. I look forward to reading more.
Amy I loved this post! I too have this sudden urge of thinking I need to transform my classroom over night and it's just not realistic. After coming back from the week long ISTE conference in Denever I couldn't wait to start putting together units using google maps, blogs, podcasts etc. and I need to remind myself that it's a process and I need to take it a step at a time.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote a little about this on my blog but I too find that students do not really value their education at this point. My students do the same thing of making comments like "is this going to be graded?" or in third grade especially they say things like "how many sentences does it have to be" and it's very frustrating. By using the 2knows, netbooks, flip videos etc I have found that the engagement level is so high and kids want to push themselves. It helps bring out that intrinsic motivation!