As I was reading David Jakes' Tablet Schmablet Redux post, I realized that there are a ton of people talking about how Tablets can be used in the classroom to make education better. While I won't deny I would love to have sets of those to put into classrooms, I don't think that is the most important part of this new evolution.
As David notes the Tablet technology is coming, there is no denying that. "There appears to be new technologies emerging from Apple, OLPC, Dell, NotionInk , and yes, even Google. There’s even the Mag+, which seems to be more reader than anything else." And yes it has the potential to eventually change textbooks as well as book reading as it pertains to the classroom, but I think we can agree that as with everything else it will take a while for it to penetrate education.
What I think is harder to argue with is the fact that it will change reading, especially newspapers and magazines. And there is a good chance that it will change it dramatically within two to three years. Look at how the iPhone has changed the mobile phone market, I expect a similar change from the Tablet. When it does, hyperlinked writing, photo slideshows and video journalism will become what we expect.
So even if we don't use them in the classroom as quickly as people are predicting, normal consumers will be using them. It will change how we deliver news and how we write professionally.
So when today's ninth graders graduate, news decimation and writing will look significantly different.
Doesn't that mean we should be taking a hard look at how we are teaching these students to write?
Or do we continue to teach them to write the current way because that's how they will write in college because as we know education will be the last to change?
The Tablet (or whatever you want to call it) will be a game-changer but maybe not IN education. Should it be one TO education?
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"Doesn't that mean we should be taking a hard look at how we are teaching these students to write?"
ReplyDeleteI think the answer to that question is a resounding Yes! I think the change is already afoot and is not dependent on the developing technolgy. The new technology may speed the change but there is no question that the students we teach need to learn communication skills that are for a hyperconnected world.
We found that when we incorporate digital essays and storytelling we also have the opportunity to hone traditional writing skills. we have found that crafting a good multimedia message requires quite a bit of critical thinking, prewriting and editing.
"we have found that crafting a good multimedia message requires quite a bit of critical thinking, prewriting and editing."
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this. As a former web design and video production teacher, I fully appreciate pre-production. I also think it is one of the most difficult thing for students to embrace but it makes the most difference in the end product. Also having the ability to edit the project easily is a huge learning experience.
Thanks for your thoughts.