May 14

Written by: Dan Maas
5/14/2008 

In this Power Point (http://teachers.ocps.net/lienj/lessons/index.html) some really good ideas are presented about using information technology in the classroom. But the presentation quickly shifts into learning theory and advocates for constructivist approaches, which I very much support. Where I ran into the problem was the mix of learning theory and technology integration in comparing old and new paradigms. For example, the old paradigm is described as teacher-centered whereas the new paradigm is student-centered. True enough, but you don't need technology integration to do that nor does having technology assure that shift. Indeed, I had many student-centered classes growing up during the "old paradigm."

This led me to think about what is really different when a classroom is equipped with technology and the teachers are trained to use it not only in their own personal practices but with instruction as well. So conferring with Mike Porter (as I always do), here are some thoughts about what is different about 21st Century Learning compared to what came before.

Note you can pause the slide show with the menu at the bottom... Picasa likes to move things along [;-)