“New Tricks”

This morning I was using Google Classroom when one of my students stated, “I think it’s great that an older teacher like you can learn technology”.  While the comment was sincere and he meant well, it amazes me how little our young people have a grasp on the technology timeline. 

I was teaching a “Flipped” classroom back in 2002 using presentation software and Go To My PC online resources from my home, emailing in 1984 (Compuserve and BBS), had a cell phone in 1989 and have been using PowerPoint  since 1992 (albeit with a projector that required total darkness).  On the flipside, most high school students today can’t type 20 words a minute, can’t code (HTML, C, or BASIC) and they require a 2 day seminar on how to login to a wireless access point. 

Not only that, God forbid that you put a QR code on the board and ask them to scan it.   You will get more blank stares than a rat loose in a mortuary.  An administrator came in to my room during first semester and asked the students how they liked Google Classroom and the other technology oriented activities that were being asked of them.  Sadly, the overwhelming majority of these HCP (Honors College Prep. ) students made comments like, “I wish we could go back to pencil and paper, etc..).    

All of a sudden it hit me, we have intruded into their cyber paradise.  Though they can’t perform the simple before-mentioned task, students are perfectly capable of Snapchat, FB, Yik Yak, Instagram, Tumbler, Spotify, YouTube.  etc.. . When we ask them to adapt their technology to the classroom the fun is gone.   As educators we must change the dynamic.  The reason that many teachers are so good at technology is that when they went for their graduate degrees, they were FORCED to turn in assignments online, type papers, etc.. .

Unless we begin to REQUIRE active and productive use of technology, we will be producing a group of modern-day Luddites.

God Bless All Who gave up 60 seconds of their lives to read this email. Now, go out and POST THOSE ASSIGNMENTS  !!!