Week 3, Blog 1 - ISTE 2011 Conference

The article is from the following link: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/edubloggercon11-iste11



This writing was about the different ideas that surfaced during the ISTE 2011 Conference held in Philly.  One of the ideas found in the conference was the fact that classrooms could possibly be “flipped.”  This means that students and teachers can find the majority of the world’s information outside of the classroom.  The classroom is no longer the area where the information is learned.  Instead, students and teachers can get information anywhere using their iPads, telephones, computers, and so on.  As a result, teachers should flip the classroom.  This means that teachers should use the time in the classroom not to get the information, but rather to take the information and make something out of it.  With the information that students have already obtained, they need to synthesize the information and make sense of it while employing higher-level thinking skills.



This makes sense.  The internet and cell phones has made information accessible to anybody.  Now, information is not in the hands of a few, but is rather in the hands of all.  Now, it is imperative that teachers teach kids how to take the information and understand the information.  With all of the information (and misinformation) that is out there, students need to learn the skills to critically evaluate all printed material.  If they can do this, then they will be better prepared for the real world.



Another point of the article was how a school with at-risk students has created a class in which the students play World of Warcraft.  According to the writing, students are improving their reading and writing abilities while playing the game.  This is a good idea in that it is getting students to practice reading and writing.  If this can get students hooked on learning, then it is a positive idea.  However, a cautionary note: we cannot turn learning into a game for students.  As responsible adults, we have to realize how entertainment-driven our society has become.  We have to make sure that we counter this with academics, yet still connect with our students.  We have to point out to students the difference between the real world and the virtual world. 



The blog also pointed out how the web has caused many real-world relationships to suffer because of the online communities that professionals have built.  Their cyber-relationships have blossomed, yet their real-world relationships (those with their families) have suffered.  This is something that we have to make sure we point out to our students and to our colleagues.  The web is a great resource, but we must be responsible with it.  We cannot let it consume our lives – or our students’ lives.



Teachers at the conference also noted that they felt overwhelmed by all of the websites and technologies.  The author pointed out that we have to accept this and find what will work for us.  We have to discern what will work best for our students in the classroom and run with it.  I agree.  We cannot spend all of our days looking for the newest website.  We have to focus on building relationships with our students and our colleagues and work together to teach students how to think critically and responsibly.





Ray, Betty.  “Report from EduBloggerCon at ISTE11: Trends and Tools.”  26 June 2011.  Web.  Edutopia.  3 July 2011.  <http://www.edutopia.org/blog/edubloggercon11-iste11>.