Unit 2-Immigrant or Native

Loved, loved, loved the videos. They are a true representation of the world we live in and shows that if we keep doing the same things over and over, we will keep getting the same results. So must there be change? Yes! So yes, I am an immigrant but I am learning from the natives. I am trying to lose my accent! The students we teach today are by far "different" from those we taught even ten years ago. My children are not even natives, but my grandchildren are. My three and five year old grandsons use my laptop, iPhone, kindle fire, and iPad. Some of the games (educational of course) they have figured out on their own. The information highway has brought the world together. Our own thoughts and ideas now have the capability to go global. What does this mean for education? We, as teachers, must learn to teach the "natives" with tools the natives understand. Unfortunately not all "immigrants" have the desire to change to the "natives' ways." In my district, teaching with the latest technology is becoming a "non-negotiable." Teachers are expected to use the technology to teach. I can see veteran teachers leaving the profession because of the lack of willingness to change from the "old ways." Students today are technology rich and multi-taskers. To teach them we must do so with the tools of their world. I applaud the teachers in the Warlick article. I would love to be in a building where that kind of teaching is the norm. It is a great example of teaching students using the tools of their world with real world experiences. BRAVO! This doesn't just apply to students in our schools. It is everywhere. Cell phones are so much more than just a way to call someone. The vehicles we buy are now more like computers on wheels. To survive in the world of technology, we all must be able to speak the language.