Blog Post # 2 Collaborative

What Will Teaching in the 21st Century be Like?

Dr. Dancealot is an extremely humorous video. In this video, Dr. Dancealot gives poor instructions to his students that are learning complicated dances, such as the Foxtrot and Waltz. This video pokes fun at how some teachers throw information at students in an uninteresting way, and then expect students to be able to perform difficult tasks based merely on the information they are given. For example, at one point during the video Dr. Dancelot is giving dance step instructions behind his desk where students are unable to see. When a student tries to stand up and perform the steps to grasp the concept of the dance, the student is scolded. This example shows how important hands on learning is in the classroom. No one can expect a student to perform a task perfectly without having practiced it first, no matter how much instruction they are given. Even though the Dr. Dancelot is a bit extreme, it definitely shows the need to have group interaction and hands on learning techniques in the classroom.
By: Cathleen Inker

I think that the Dr. Dancealot video is an exemplary example of the importance of hands on learning and project based learning. Dr. Dancealot says that he has taught dance for 12 years but seems to barely know the dance moves himself. Why would he if has only read about the dances and has never actually performed them himself. He spends the class time “teaching” his students about dance through powerpoint slides and “showing” them steps while he is behind his desk. I think the video is trying to express or relay the fact that students do not learn through watching and listening, they learn when they are able to perform the tasks or skills themselves.
By: Jasmine McCall

One word describes Mr. Dancealot, boring. I laughed a lot. His teaching methods was unreal. He was the only one interested in his dancing instruction.
By: Edna Montgomery

Jasmine McCall

Wendy Drexler: The Networked Student

Wendy Drexler is an instructor at the University of Florida. She designed the university’s first blended Moodle course. Moodle can be used as a platform to construct fully online classes. Ms. Drexler also facilitated students in developing their personal learning environment, demonstrated in the youtube video ‘The Networked Student’.

The video explains what it means for students to be 21st century learners. The male in the video explains how connectivism, “the theory that presumes that learning occurs as part of a social network of many diverse connections and ties made possible through various tools of technology”, empowers and enables students to be in control of their personal learning environment. Students are allowed to make connections with others who will help these students in strengthening their learning process. I found the use of an mp3 player as an educational tool interesting, as it enables students to have access to lecture recordings from professors at Berkeley, Yale, and other universities. This may come in handy when a student is researching information for a projects. Students are also able to use sites such as twitter, skype and blogger. These sites enable students to go outside of their classroom, they connect students with different people around the world.

An important question proposed in the video is “Why does the networked student even need a teacher?”. This question is pretty much answered in the video, while a networked student is allowed to be in control of their learning process and is an independent learner, he or she would still need guidance from their instructors. As described in the video a teacher is a ‘learning architect’ and is their to aide students in building their personal learning network and to take advantage of learning opportunities presented to them. The teacher should also help students get excited and motivated about new information that they find. Teachers also offer guidance and assistance in helping students to communicate more effectively..Teaching and “learning” as we know will cease to exist. Traditional methods of teaching will soon be phased out, technology is transforming learning and teaching. While students are rapidly becoming independent learners, I do believe teachers will still play a vital role in their educational journeys.



Cathleen Inker

I was assigned the video, “ Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts” by Vicki Davis. This video can be found on the Edutopia website. The video is a great example of how to implement technology into the classroom and step outside traditional teaching methods. Vicki Davis’ students were sharing their thoughts and work with students all over the world! She has created a website called “Digi Teen” where students and teachers can comminucate through blog posts and share their ideas. They also have assigned topics they post their research and writings, that other students from around the world can comment on and pull information from. In addition, students can not only critique and comment on each other's work, but they can also collaborate on assignments together, even though they are thousands of miles from each other. Davis also includes her students in the teaching process. She allows them to stand in front of the classroom to share their work and not only instruct each other, but Ms. Davis herself. For example, in the video she says that her students taught her how to use Tetherraform, which she was unaware of how to use until her students showed her that day. Davis utilizes technology in her classroom on a daily basis.

Edna Montgomery

Mr. Roberts thoughts on teaching in the 21 century, focuses on technology making the classroom an interesting place. I feel his thoughts of technology is great because of the ability to involve the students in learning more about the world. As a educator, interested in learning would mean a lot to me.