“Motivating Students in the Digital Age”

Preparing Future Faculty(PFF)Howard University Graduate SchoolFebruary 17, 2011Dr. Marilyn Irving ProfessorAssociate Dean for Research and Sponsored Programs

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Agenda• Introduction

• 20th Century versus the 21st century Classroom

• Respect for Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

• Using Technology in the Classroom

• Levels of Technology Implementation(LoTi)

• Reflection/Closure

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Questions to be addressed• How do I encourage students to be

active/interested?• How do I augment my assignments with

appropriate digital resources and online learning?

• How do I get my students to prepare for class?• How do I motivate my students who are not

interested in the subject?• How can I make sure my students have done the

reading?• How will I know if my students are learning?

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20th Century versus the 21st Century Classroom

2oth Century 21st Century

• Time based• Focus: memorization of

discrete facts• Lessons focus on the

lower of Bloom’s Taxonomy-knowledge, comprehension and application

• Textbook-driven• Passive learning• Learners work in isolation• Teacher centered

• Outcome based• Focus: what students know,

can do and are like • Learning is designed on

upper levels on Blooms’- synthesis analysis and evaluation (include lower levels of curriculum)

• Research Driven• Active learning• Learners work collaboratively• Student centered

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20th Century 21st Century

• “Discipline problems”• Fragmented Curriculum• Grades averaged• Low expectations• Teacher is judge• Curriculum/School is

irrelevant to students• Print is the primary

vehicle of learning

• No “discipline problems”• Integrated curriculum• Grades based what’s

learned• High expectations• Self, peer and other

assessments• Curriculum is connected to

students interest• Performances projects and

multiple forms of media used for learning

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20th Century versus the 21st Century Classroom

20th Century 21st Century

• Diversity in students is ignored

• Literacy is the 3R’s- reading, writing and math

• Factory model, based on the needs of employers for the Industrial age

• Driven by the NCLB and standardized testing mania

• Addresses student diversity

• Multiple literacy's-aligned to living and working in globalized new millennium

• Global model based upon the needs of globalized high tech society

• Standardized testing has its place

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20th Century versus the 21st Century Classroom

Respect for Diverse Talents and Ways of Learning

Many roads lead to learningDifferent students bring different talents and

learning styles to collegeStudents need opportunities to show their

talents and learn in ways that work for themTechnological resources can provide for

different methods of learning through powerful visuals, virtual experiences and through tasks requiring analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, with real application to real life situations.

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How do I encourage students to be active/interested?

• Set clear, high and realistic expectations• Let your students know exactly what you expect• When introducing the technology assignment,

use a projector or interactive whiteboard to model the process

• Assign engaging projects and assignments• Students who are bombarded with drill and

practice assignments with no relevance to real life will not be engaged and motivated to learn

• For example, if students are studying Egypt in Social Studies, have them do a PowerPoint and create a slide show about Egypt

• Add video clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBek7aMyx3w

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•Enhance your classroom by the use of technology to embellish your lesson on any topic

Incorporate the use of digital boards Digital camerasInteractive WhiteboardsHand held devices

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Using Technology in the Classroom

Using technology in the classroom

•Chat room•Student Blogs •Research current events•Allow student to record their experiments

and labs and upload for others to view•Allow students to connect with other

students via teleconference (Skype) in various cities, states, countries etc.

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•Technology not only supports presentations and record-keeping but enables communication between teachers, administration and parents

•Teachers use technology to create lesson plans, take attendance and record grades

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Using Technology in the Classroom (Cont’d)

How do I augment my assignments with appropriate digital resources and online learning?•Use visual supports•Be sure to use examples that are familiar

to the students•Tell students which information is

important to remember•Write important information down for

example on a transparency, poster, or Power Point

• Increase interest by using sound effects and animation on power point slides

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•Electronic Mail•Computer conferencing•World-wide web increase opportunities

for students and faculty to converse and exchange work much faster than before

14How do I augment my assignments with appropriate digital resources and online learning? (Cont’d)

Using PowerPoint goes beyond presenting simple slides of

lecture notes can integrate images, multimedia clips

Blackboard provides a teaching and learning environment that allows for content management and sharing, online assessment, student tracking, assignment management and virtual collaboration.

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How do I augment my assignments with appropriate digital resources and online learning? (Cont’d)

Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTI)

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•Level 0• Non Use

• Level 1• Awareness

• Level 2• Exploration

• Level 3• Infusion

•Level 4a• Integration(Mechanical)

• Level 4b• Integration (Routine)

• Level 5• Expansion

• Level 6• Refinement

Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTI)

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How will I know if my students are learning

•Learning is not a spectator sport. Students do not learn much just sitting in classes listening to teachers, memorizing assignments. They must talk about what they are learning, write reflectively about it, relate it past experiences, and apply it to their daily lives. They must make what they learn part of themselves.

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Recent Trends•State pushes for digital school books

▫ http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2011/feb/02/LANEWSO1-state-pushes-for-digital-school-books

•Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School received 520 iPads to enhance the learning experience▫ http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/pinellas-brings-cutting-edge-

technology-to-the-classroom/1151319

•Technology Helps Students Learn at their Own Pace▫ http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=94287

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References• Belasco, James A., Teaching the Elephant to Dance,

1991.• Grant, Jodi, Director of the After School Alliance;

Fourteen Million Kids, Unsupervised.• Jerald, Craig D.; Defining a 21st Century Education,

2009.• Kellner, Douglas; New Media and New Literacies:

Reconstructing Education for the New Millennium.• McLeod, Scott, Dangerously Irrelevant.• Time, Learning and Afterschool Task Force, A New Day

for Learning.• Wesch, Michael, Ph.D. See his works at Digital

Ethnography. (Separate footnotes to be added for each web page and video cited)

• Price, Kay M. ; Karna, L. Nelson. Planning Effective Instruction. Belmont,CA : Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2007,2011

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Reflections• Did I plan a strategy to grab my students

attention?

• Did I plan a way to clearly state the objective of the lesson/activity in terms students understand?

• Did I plan specific examples to explain the value of the lesson/activity?

• Did I plan to build or activate necessary background knowledge?

• Did I plan a way to get my students involved right from the start?

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