Me, the 21st Century Learner (and Teacher)

I like this title, “21st Century Learner”, much better than trying to figure out if I am Generation X, Y or O (other).  I grew up with computers and I mean really with as in when computers were going through growing pains, so was I.  I think it was a real challenge to figure out how to be an effective learner.  I had this amazing tool, evolving before my very eyes and yet nobody in my traditional education setting was teaching how to use it effectively.  I know I am not alone in feeling like I had to teach myself how to use technology effectively which is drastically different from the way the current generations of students are experiencing technology.  The kids today may think that teachers aren’t using technology as much but in comparison to what it used to be like?  They have so much more experience every turn they take! 

One of the things I battle with now in being a 21st Century Learner is Time Management.  How do I fit in the time to check my email, write in my blog, update my website, change my Facebook status, can’t forget the gmail status, the Outlook calendar, the google calendar, read the news, write reviews, drink coffee, stay hydrated, remember to eat, did I mention I have a family too?, play with my son, stop him from hurting himself, stop him from hurting me, spending time with my wife (quality time not just the “I’m breathing near you” time), brush my teeth, sleep (a little) and try to exercise?  I didn’t even mention work or the masters program!  What’s my learning style? 

Survival, that’s my learning style…

Survivalism theory is a culminating theory which combines behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, Connectivism and all the other –isms of educational theory into one.   It is the attempt to keep up with everything in technology as it changes and be the utmost expert on its implications and uses in education.  Unfortunately it is also directly correlation with Evolution and the Survival of the Fittest theory.  Most practitioners of Survivalism vanish from the fossil record typically involving some form of technology, a motor vehicle and a headset.  Sleep deprivation is also suspect.

Back to time management….

I find myself trying to keep up with the myriad of tasks like reading assignments, web pages, blogs, etc…  I am constantly striving to be better with my time in order to keep up with the variety of information I am expected to absorb and reflect upon.

In my own teaching –

As an 8th Grade Biology teacher I am finding myself attracted to Connectivism.  I am starting a blogging project with my students in the hope that the student-to-student interaction will spawn some new learning opportunities and experiences.  Blogging for science is an opportunity for students to write about a science topic that interests them and they get to share it with their class in a new way.  They are going to be subscribed to the blogs of every student in the class so they can see what others are posting.  They are then going to read a couple of other students’ entries and comment constructively on the issues brought up.  The hope is that this will cause increased learning on a couple of levels.  First, every student is going to be more aware that their writing matters.  It is no longer a paper turned in to the instructor for red pen criticism that is seldom heeded any attention.  Now the readership is extended to the class and technically, since it is a blog, the whole world.  Students are going to be critiqued by their peers so they better write something interesting.  Secondly they have to critique someone else.  I have been teaching for almost 10 years now, there is no harsher critic than a fellow student.  The students will hopefully put a scrutinous eye to each other’s works and as a result they will try to write in such a way as to receive less negative criticism and more positive.  This form of Connectivism using blogs is a powerful learning tool.

This is hopefully going to be a stark improvement upon the previous method of student sharing, the PowerPoint presentation.  I thought PowerPoint was going to be fantastic!  Each student designs their own presentation on their own topic and delivers their information orally to the class.  Students will ask constructive questions afterward, creating rich learning discussions.  Instead, I got really great PowerPoint presentations, mediocre delivery methods, no class questions, nor time for questions if I wanted to be fair and give everyone a presentation opportunity and students didn’t really focus on anything except when they were presenting their PowerPoint.  The student-to-student interaction seems fantastic for learning and is using a socially relevant technology tool.  Theory states it has merit and that outcomes should demonstrate increased learning.  I can’t wait to see!