Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The 21st century learner brings a wealth of technology knowledge to the classroom. The challenge then becomes to keep these fast-paced learners engaged and interacting with their learning. The SMARTboard helps reach students with different learning styles and hooks them with technology.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

With today's learners using technology like iPod touch, Smart-phones, and other touch screen devices, it is necessary for educators to keep pace.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

Children are becoming more technologically savvy and need to be introduced to more material through computers, smart boards, and other technologies. As teachers of the 21st century, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to bring these resources to our students thus keeping them engaged and focused.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I think the kids are so used to be constantly entertained that sometimes we are not meeting their needs via paper and pencil activities. They are savvy in every type of technology and it's imiportant to keep that technology going in the classroom. In addition, their is so much material available it's silly not to take advantage of it for the best of the kids.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

One of the unique challenges that a 21st century learner brings is their level of expectation related to the speed of information. Many students are used to seeing things flash in front of them, moving quickly, with action and sound. How can we start to use this technology to engage those students that are 'lost' or bored in a traditional classroom?

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

Right now I am feeling very overwhelmed, but excited about the possibilities a Smartboard will bring to our classroom. I'm hoping I will feel a bit more grounded once I have played around a bit more with the site and actually have the board in our room.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The 21st century learner is coming to school more and more tech savvy. They want to learn in this interactive and fast paced way. It is hard to keep up with these students and know more than they do to catch their attention! I am looking forward to learning more about the smart board to help me create more interesting and interactive lessons.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The 21st century student brings much knowledge and experience to the classroom. These learners are tech savvy, and eager to interact with all types of technology. Their dedication to experimentation and desire to operate technology adds enthusiam and risk taking to all classrooms. This 21st centry learner requries more hand on learning, and can become easily bored. Lessons need to be fast paced and interactive in order to keep stuents engaged.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

My unique challenges are a 45 minute class time for art. Time and collaboration are always a challenge to me. I imagine great opportunities with students being able to practice a skill visually and then use this information in a finished piece of art.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

21st Century Learners bring a renewed energy to my classroom. I attempt everyday to engage students in their world with technology tools as well as challenging students to think critically, problem solve, validate information and several other skills that are critical to living in the 21st Century. One challenge about the 21st Century Learners are that they require a new way of teaching. They require a different style of learning and engagment which requires teachers to understand the students they are teaching.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

My 1st and 2nd graders bring a very unique challenge to my classroom because all are natives to the world of technology. These students have been born to a world of instant and wide-ranging information that is available within seconds at the tips of their fingers. Therefore, my classroom must be as technologically active as possible, and learning needs to be interactive and engaging. SmartBoard technology brings this environment to my classroom.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

21st century learners bring more experience with technology each year. A challenge is that they are used to being entertained and can be passive recipients at times. The opportunity that I see here is to use technology to better reach these students in an engaging way.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The 21st century learner presents many unique challenges for the classroom. The students are so much more comfortable and have so much experience with the latest and greatest technology. Having this technology available in the classroom allows all of us to learn together and support one another.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The 21st century learner brings technology skills to the classroom that will enhance individual learning. Students will be able to accellerate their progress because they are motivated and challenged at their level.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I teach students in grades one through five, and they have a wide range of abilities regarding technology. Some students see a computer and think of playing games, others frequently say, "Google it!" when someone doesn't know the answer to a question. I think the challenge for me as a teacher is to ensure that all my students understand that technology is a tool, a resource for enhancing their learning. Sometimes it's hard for me to imagine what technology will be like ten, even five years from now - already many students are more technologically savvy than many adults. We need to be lifelong learners so we can guide our children in making good decisions in how technology positively influences their daily lives!

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I am excited to begin to implementing a SMART board in my classroom. I am concerned about the time required to become proficient but can't wait to give it a go. Thank you for your time.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The unique challenges the 21st learner brings to my classroom are access to technology on a daily basis, problem free devices, and up to date resources. Opportunities for the learner are they are getting more access to technology and hands on experiences, to keep up with their skills and knowledge of technology.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I believe 21st century learners bring unique challenges to teachers because they are growing up in a world where they are accustomed to pretty instantaneous response and feedback from the technology with which they are interfacing. Their attention is caught by images, sounds, and what they “get” from what they are doing. We as teachers need to be thinking about how to engage these learners with meaningful lessons that builds on their strengths and prior knowledge about technology.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

Hello,

The 21st century learner has access to massive amounts of information at their fingertips. Unlike the students in the century prior, these students can essentially find out anything that they need to know in a matter of seconds. Our challenge is getting them to learn how to use the technology effectively, and still learn a wealth of information eventhough they are well aware that they can come up with the answer anyway. I don't necessarily feel this challenge too much yet since I teach a pretty young set of students (9 and 10), but I am sure teachers have this challenge as the students get a little older.

Obviously, we have such a great opportunity to teach our 21st century learners effectively as well. With all the technology that is available to us, we have access to so much information to teach our students that may have been very difficult to get in the past.

21st centurly learners challenge me, their teacher, everyday. It makes me a better educator and I know how important it is to teach them in the most engaging way possible as well as connecting them globally. With the wealth of information available, it is most important that I teach my students HOW to learn for themselves and to sift through all that is available to them.

Sincerely,
Jane Springston

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I believe the challenges that are brought to us today as educators are more difficult than ever before. I feel as though we are dealing with so many more problems than just academics. There seems to be more emotional and social behaviors that are coming into the classrooms. At times I feel that I have to tackle the social/emotional piece before I can even touch the academics. At the same time I know I will be tackling both at the same time. I believe that if I can engage my students in lessons that make them think out of the box and not be afraid to participate then I am helping them. Technology will be a vital part in making this happen. I am excited about the upcoming challenge and I hope that I am able to help these students get the most out of their education and see that this is their future. They are in charge of their learning.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

Our preschoolers are coming to us with more and more experience with technology. This can be a double-edged sword: they have a jump up in this technology-driven world, but they are often lacking in skills that are gained by social interaction. Our job in preschool is to teach a balance. There are times when technology is appropriate and fun and challenges us in our thinking, and times when it can not replace what is learned through intereaction with the people, places and objects in the environment around us. I believe my job is teach our preschoolers that while technology of every kind can be fun and interesting, it is a tool, never a replacement for the real world and all that it offers!

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I'm looking forward to taking my students and myself more into the 21st century with new opportunities for interactive learning! I'm especially excited about using it for my GT math class. Challenges might be differentiating with my fourth graders and giving opportunity to all of the students no matter what their abilities are or challenges to benefit from this interactive tool.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

The unique challenges presented to the 21st century learners are to be prepared to be lifelong learners using all that is available through technology. Presenting the basic skills through this Smartboard avenue will be exciting.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

I believe that the greatest challenge is in providing a seamless flow of instructional opportunities that help the learners become creative thinkers and producers who are adaptable to the waves of technological change they will face. In doing this, we need to ensure that they remain fluid in their problem solving capabilities and not get bogged down, but rather buoyed by technology.

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

Well, I'll just be heading to the LPS website tutorials on Smart Board usage right now...

The sheer number and multiple applications of technology tools can be overwhelming...Smart Boards, Class wikis and websites, Google Apps with groups and sites and emails and docs, blog spots, Power Points...it's a lot of stuff to learn.

My question is, are staff members being trained to identify which technologies can be most effectively incorporated into the daily classroom environment? That would be an exciting class/training to take. As soon as I find one I'm signing up!

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That's a great attitude, I hope the incoming comments and suggestions are equally positive. I know I've said it in person, but for anyone reading the comments, its awesome!

onlineselling
www.skilch.com

Re: Morgridge Family Foundation Grant Winners

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re:

love it! very interesting topics, I hope the incoming comments and suggestion are equally positive. Thanks for sharing information that is actually helpful.

allinfouneed
www.tulleeho.org