Many educators say text-messaging actually may improve students' writing skills and their ability to communicate, allowing them to experiment with language. Other educators stress the need for students to know how and when to employ different writing styles. "It's up to teachers to understand the digital media and help students bridge their casual and formal writing," said Sharon Washington, executive director of the National Writing Project.
how can events like Maker Faire shift how we think about schools
We imagine schools can become places where students learn to identify their own challenges, solve new problems, motivate themselves to complete a project, work together, inspire others, and give advice and guidance to others
partnering to help more kids create projects for Maker Faire as a way to fuel kids' intrinsic motivations in science, math, and engineering
gaming in the classroom
Elementary computer teacher Joel Levin uses the digital game Minecraft in the second-grade classroom. In the game, players scavenge for resources and use 3D blocks to build projects that can be wholly determined by the user or the teacher. "I'm able to construct these elaborate experiences, settings, and stories for the kids to move through. Rather than having to shoehorn a lesson around a game, I'm able to think about what I'm trying to teach and then design an entire world around that
"teachers should take on new roles and approaches to using technology that transform the learning experiences they offer to students. We need to help educators become fluent users of technology, creative and collaborative problem solvers, and adaptive, socially aware experts throughout their careers. We need to equip them with a pedagogy that is rich in project-based, authentic learning experiences that require students to use technology as tools for discovery, collaboration, and the creation. Only then will we see the full impact of what is possible with technology.
The notion that technology itself can improve student outcomes must die. "