So, Jacqueline, how can you channel the student energy to the focus of the course? Is there a way to help students use their interest in the Internet to increase their participation in the class?
I agree with this, I have students that put the internet to good use, and other students that get distracted and I start hearing comments of things that are not even about the subject that they should be finding the information on.
I feel the web is a great tool for learning. I have done a great deal of research on the web. My concern would be with loosing their interest in the project they still need structure.
James, can you share your methods to keep students "in line" and to provide them with the tools they need to move forward? I agree that the technology itself can demand this level of self-directedness.
So, Benson, the challenges of the Internet actually force the instructor to be proactive in teaching appropriate research and information analysis skills in students.
The internet is a vast knowledge base, some of it valid and some of it false information. First of all, keeping a student on task, is a matter of keeping them engaged. A course that is properly designed to allow the use of external reasearch sources can do this very effectively, simpley by putting a time constraint an information gathering. The student will not have time to deviate from a good plan to research rather thn socialize. Second, if the student happens to gather false information, that allows for a good point of discussion about pitfalls to look out for in the real world and how to decipher good information and false information.
I feel that this could happen at first But i see as time goes by that they will stay in line to what they need to if they are give the right tools to move forward and keep their mind in tune with what they need to learn about their subject.
Yes, good points, Rick. Newer technology has affected how students think and learn and process information. I like your ideas about designing instruction rather than simply transmitting it. Can you identify the core characteristics of the kind of instructional design you think would be most successful?
Andre, I agree with your reply.
I must say i also have learned a lot in this session about why the students today do not relate to regimented learning sessions like the generations of past....
I believe we can integrate some of the content at least in the understanding of how this generation prseaves information, as opposed to expecting the info to just flow out in exacting form.
Rick Touchette
Interesting thoughts, Andre. I would encourage you to think about the idea of facilitating rather than controlling the environment of learning. Information can be managed but not controlled and I think the challenge of keeping students on task and focused is not new with this generation :) Our methods may need to modify but the outcome must remain - supporting learning. How do you think the technology can be maximized while still supporting learning?
