Philosophy
Whenever we hear discussions of improving education these days, someone inevitably brings up "technology in the classroom" as if it is unquestioningly something that leads to better learning. But is it? Sure, technology improved manufacturing -- more products produced, more uniform quality, cuts and stitches made exactly straight,.. Technology in medicine, again, better diagnostics, better records, better ability to bring teams onto the same page for care,... But how does it help in learning?
One example I've seen work is the use of clickers in science classes. The professor asks a question and like asking the audience on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, there is a quantifiable measure of who thinks what. It can be used to see if the class really understands the point you've been trying to make. It can be used to expose folk misunderstandings that science corrects. It is a useful technological pedagogical advance.
But beyond that, I don't understand why we are so fascinated with technologizing learning. Good teaching is good teaching and a good teacher doesn't need anything but a class. Is there something I'm missing here? Are there other examples of technology in the classroom that are helpful in ways a good teacher alone could not be?
- Does Teaching Require Sacrifice?
I was in the doctor's office yesterday reading an old copy of Smithsonian and came across a fascinating article on chimpanzee behavior. While tool use has been observed many times in many contexts, learning is transmitted through an apprenticeship...
- Finding Great Teachers
We're about to have some candidates come to campus for an opening we have. Finding someone who will become a solid scholar is fairly straightforward. In conversation you can get a sense of the breadth and creativity. In writing samples, you get a...
- Other Than Grades
With the holidays last week, I wasn't able to answer several questions, so let's get to a few more of them this week. Jeff asks, "So the problems with the "grade model" of education are fairly obvious, and discussed before on this blog. The worry,...
- Choosing A College
There was an interesting discussion yesterday over at Mad Melancholic Feminista about a revolt by liberal arts colleges against U.S. News and World Reports' national rankings. This is a big deal because incoming students and their families take these...
- A Career Of Teaching Chemistry...jim Baker
Jim Baker 1976 He reminds me of James Hilton's Mr. Chips...a dedicated teacher over the decades. "Teaching chemistry is my career and my hobby" Jim Baker went into teaching because he enjoyed passing on his knowledge. After 42 years, despite how...
Philosophy
Technology in the Classroom
Whenever we hear discussions of improving education these days, someone inevitably brings up "technology in the classroom" as if it is unquestioningly something that leads to better learning. But is it? Sure, technology improved manufacturing -- more products produced, more uniform quality, cuts and stitches made exactly straight,.. Technology in medicine, again, better diagnostics, better records, better ability to bring teams onto the same page for care,... But how does it help in learning?
One example I've seen work is the use of clickers in science classes. The professor asks a question and like asking the audience on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, there is a quantifiable measure of who thinks what. It can be used to see if the class really understands the point you've been trying to make. It can be used to expose folk misunderstandings that science corrects. It is a useful technological pedagogical advance.
But beyond that, I don't understand why we are so fascinated with technologizing learning. Good teaching is good teaching and a good teacher doesn't need anything but a class. Is there something I'm missing here? Are there other examples of technology in the classroom that are helpful in ways a good teacher alone could not be?
- Does Teaching Require Sacrifice?
I was in the doctor's office yesterday reading an old copy of Smithsonian and came across a fascinating article on chimpanzee behavior. While tool use has been observed many times in many contexts, learning is transmitted through an apprenticeship...
- Finding Great Teachers
We're about to have some candidates come to campus for an opening we have. Finding someone who will become a solid scholar is fairly straightforward. In conversation you can get a sense of the breadth and creativity. In writing samples, you get a...
- Other Than Grades
With the holidays last week, I wasn't able to answer several questions, so let's get to a few more of them this week. Jeff asks, "So the problems with the "grade model" of education are fairly obvious, and discussed before on this blog. The worry,...
- Choosing A College
There was an interesting discussion yesterday over at Mad Melancholic Feminista about a revolt by liberal arts colleges against U.S. News and World Reports' national rankings. This is a big deal because incoming students and their families take these...
- A Career Of Teaching Chemistry...jim Baker
Jim Baker 1976 He reminds me of James Hilton's Mr. Chips...a dedicated teacher over the decades. "Teaching chemistry is my career and my hobby" Jim Baker went into teaching because he enjoyed passing on his knowledge. After 42 years, despite how...