How Can We Help Digital Natives With Technology?

In an recent article published in Scientific American kids, even though they may be facile using a variety of digital tools, are "quick to become impatient and discouraged when faced with complex tasks involving digital tools."  Researchers Passanisi and Peters stress that teachers have a responsibility to help students take them beyond instant gratification to learn to discern what is relevant and what is not.  Students will need to learn that it takes time to sort data, inquire, and solve problems. 
I agree and see that our Title I shifts in reading and math is a good pathway to take.  As proctors you could see this behavior in MAP testing...don't know.  The MAP test mantra could be "Think Before You Click."
Your comments are encouraged.

Why Digital Natives Need Help With Technology.  Anthony Rebora. 8.30.12. Education Week Teacher - Teaching Now
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teaching_now/2012/08/why_digital_natives_need_help_with_technology.html?cmp=ENL-TU-NEWS2

What Is Literacy in the Digital Age?

Nicholas Provenzano, a teacher,  technology-curriculum specialist, a blogger, a convention presenter, etc. says that literacy is far more encompassing than "reading & writing,"  the standard definition of literacy in the 20th Century.  He lists 3 key items that are essential to be part of students' everyday lives...

1. E-mail
2. Word processing
3. Research

While there are many other skills important with specific digitial tools, he says these are the most basic, important, and essential to compete in a global market.  He also wonders how many teachers are considered literate by today's standards?
Probably you could add to this list.  What skills do you think comprise literacy in the digital world we live in?  Add your own.

What does it mean to be literate?  Nicholas Provenzano 9.4.12 SmartBlog on Education
http://smartblogs.com/education/2012/09/04/what-mean-literate-2/

Do You Know About SchoolTube?

To date 40,000 schools use SchoolTube for free.  The company is the nation's largest teacher moderated video sharing website. Students upload their own videos and are shared in a safe environment.  They make TakePart reports but students cannot upload their videos unless a teacher says it appropriate to publish. Interesting, but how useful would this resource be in Title I?  Good to know about it, however.
Comments...

Why thousands of K-12 teachers are turning to SchoolTube. Suzi Parker. 9.4.12 Takepart.com Yahoo News
http://news.yahoo.com/why-thousands-k-12-teachers-turning-schooltube-235000772.html

Technology Skills or Just Good Educational Skills

I agree with the first comment after this article.  Four of these five skills are excellent and are mostly transferable to many educational situations and to technologies not even invented yet. 
Stansbury lists and explains her 5 essential technology skills....

1. Online literacy
2. Critical thinking
3. The science behind the technology
4. Adaptablilitly
5. Courage

If you were to add to the list, what would you include?  With the exception of #1, do you agree with my assessment that these 5 skills are important skills with or without technology?  Your opinion please.

Five technology skills every student should learn. 9.4.12 Meris Stansbury.eSchool News
http://www.eschoolnews.com/2012/09/04/five-technology-skills-every-student-should-learn/?

Teachers - Be Careful Using Too Much Tech!

David Ginsburg, popular columnist on Education Week Teacher warns teachers that technology is important, no denying that, but it has its place.  Common courtesy tells us to focus on the people in our presence and many cannot do that anymore.  It's not that we've become less interested in each other, but rather less caopable of paying attention to each other.  Ginsburg encourages us to be prudent on your students' and colleagues'time.  Wise man, I would say!  Have you seen this happen in school?  In your life outside of school?  What's to be done?  Share your thoughts.

The New Digital Divide.  David Ginsburg. 9.2.12. Education Week Teacher
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/coach_gs_teaching_tips/2012/09/the_new_digital_divide_1.html

Tips on Teaching Critical Thinking

Karen McDaniels examines three areas that will help teachers better prepare students to think critically.  Excellent and worth your time. 

• Taking On Complex Text
• The Art of Questioning
• Learning Conversations

I notice that technology is not listed in this article.  How might you incorporate digital learning in your lesson plans that foster critical thinking?


Enlightening Minds - Preparing Critical Thinkers for Life After High School. Karen McDaniels 6.7.12.Vol 7 Iss.18. ASCD Express
http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol7/718-mcdaniels.aspx

What Study Strategy is the Best?

Guess what?  The least popular study strategy is the most effective.  This article summarizes research done at the Memory Lab at Washington University in St. Louis.  http://learning lab.psych.purdue.edu/downloads/2012_Karpicke_Smith_JML.pdf

The most common way to study was to reread material but was not the most effective as a study strategy. Students who self-tested or quizzed did better.  "Tests" have gotten a bad rap, but as a form of frequent retrieval as a study strategy it is the most effective for long term learning. 
Those of you who are teaching SRSS classes for Title I students, do you include quizzing in your repertoire?  Try it with students who are having a big test coming up.

Research Finds Students Short on Study Savvy.  Sarah Sparks. 6.6.12. Education Week.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/06/06/33study.h31.html?tkn=ULMFNK6%2BfY2FH18S2XKNfGUT6QxESg2q3MRd&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1