Module 1 - Street Smarts
Overview
What matters in learning? Is it the students' potential ability? The teacher? The context in which learning occurs? The environment? The available resources? Many teachers, educational leaders, and educational researchers would say all of the above (me included). So where does technology fit in? I'm guessing many of you would say it is an educational resource and I wouldn't necessarily disagree with you. But I think it is also could be considered a context. Now the book chapter I'm asking you to read doesn't really talk about technology. It focuses on the importance of context in learning. In this case, the content is mathematics but I believe it applies to all content subjects.
Today's elementary school students have always lived in a world with smart phones. My children have constantly used my smart phone to play games, watch videos, and look up information. The context in which they live and learn is one where technology is always present. If this is the case, then we need to ask ourselves how much does context matter? Keith Devlin (2012), a renown mathematician, wrote a book titled "Mathematics Education for a New Era: Video Games as a Medium for Learning" in which he argues that video games should be used to teach mathematics to middle grades students and describes the kinds of features these games should include. Now I don't necessarily agree wholeheartedly with Devlin, but he makes some interesting points. One of those points is the context really matters. I'm asking you to read the first chapter in his book in which he makes this argument. As you read, consider the context in which your current and future students live and learn and how that is shaping their knowledge, skills and understanding.
Today's elementary school students have always lived in a world with smart phones. My children have constantly used my smart phone to play games, watch videos, and look up information. The context in which they live and learn is one where technology is always present. If this is the case, then we need to ask ourselves how much does context matter? Keith Devlin (2012), a renown mathematician, wrote a book titled "Mathematics Education for a New Era: Video Games as a Medium for Learning" in which he argues that video games should be used to teach mathematics to middle grades students and describes the kinds of features these games should include. Now I don't necessarily agree wholeheartedly with Devlin, but he makes some interesting points. One of those points is the context really matters. I'm asking you to read the first chapter in his book in which he makes this argument. As you read, consider the context in which your current and future students live and learn and how that is shaping their knowledge, skills and understanding.
devlin_2012_street_smarts.pdf |
To Do
Step 1:
Read Keith Devlin's (2012) Street Smarts
Step 2:
As you read, make note of points that you found especially interesting, important, or enlightening. Also, think of questions you have after reading this article. To help guide your thinking, consider the following questions:
Step 3:
On the D2L course discussion board [which you can access through MyRU, begin a new thread and post at least 2 ideas that you thought were particularly important, interesting or enlightening. Also, post at least 1 question you have based on reading the article.
Step 4:
Then respond to at least 2 different classmates ideas' and try to answer at least 1 of your classmate's questions.
Read Keith Devlin's (2012) Street Smarts
Step 2:
As you read, make note of points that you found especially interesting, important, or enlightening. Also, think of questions you have after reading this article. To help guide your thinking, consider the following questions:
- What does it mean to know something?
- How do children learn?
- How does context matter when learning?
- After reading this chapter, how do you think teachers should approach teaching?
Step 3:
On the D2L course discussion board [which you can access through MyRU, begin a new thread and post at least 2 ideas that you thought were particularly important, interesting or enlightening. Also, post at least 1 question you have based on reading the article.
Step 4:
Then respond to at least 2 different classmates ideas' and try to answer at least 1 of your classmate's questions.