In this awesome TED talk video, Wesch challenges the existing structure of education and the discord occurring between the delivery of content in an age of almost limitless connectivity. He underscores how the very physical design of traditional classrooms sends a message of compliance and learning as work that should be done individually without interaction. He further argues how digital media has opened doors and freed access to information.
His example of co-constructing meaning was inspiring. The way he shared the learning among his students demonstrated the power of having purpose and ownership of the knowledge being acquired. Through his approach, students not only learned about the topic, but they were contributing to the existing knowledge base. By using digital media, their work had a higher purpose as it reached a global audience.
In my district, we have launched a 1:1 ipad initiative that is extremely exciting. This presentation exemplifies the potential for student engagement through the use of technology. I believe this is our goal as a district and I cannot wait until I begin to see this occur at my school. I also realize the amount of professional development and support it will take for our current teachers to be at a point of proficiency to reform our delivery of instruction to truly maximize the technology we have in our schools.
It is an exciting time!
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