Twitch-speed

In my last blog, I played devil’s advocate with the edutainment question that is so common in education today. I commented that tech obsessed kids who are bored in school should “get over it” and take full advantage of any educational opportunity given to them. I still believe this even after reading one of Prensky’s books. “Digital game-based learning” presented an interesting viewpoint on the post-baby boomer learning style. My next few entries will be commenting on my unearthing of this idea.

In his book “Digital Game-based learning”, Marc Prensky differentiates how the mind changes while observing television from those working with interactive technologies such as video games and the internet. He presented a mind blowing account of a study that proves that post baby-boomer's brains actually think differently. If you believe that then we have a problem!

This is the foundation of the educational generation gap. The old-school idea of drill and learn has become useless for this type of learner. The learning style for students today who operate at what Prenski calls “twitch-speed” is evident. “Significant changes in the educational system have been due largely to historical events.” (Gardner, H; 2007). Has the extended use of technology changed how students learn? And can teachers really recognize this and make the necessary changes in their own learning/teaching style to meet these students’ needs?

Some educators are refusing to change their style. In an article that made national headlines, a law professor at the University of Michigan has banned laptops. “"Not only was I stunned by how much better the class was, the students volunteered that it was much better." says Don Herzog, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. He tried a one-day ban as an experiment.” (Foster, 2008)

What is the real problem here? Is it that students are not able to focus or is that they haven’t the discipline to use the tool properly? “Students with laptops…surf the Web instead of engaging in class, and play games, shop online, or e-mail friends, distracting themselves and those who sit near them.” (Foster, 2008) I feel it is this generations misguided attitude towards education that has ruined what is supposed to be a groundbreaking tool in education. “The invention of the printing press made possible wide-scale literacy and allowed individuals increasingly to take charge of their own education.” (Gardner, H; 2007). Laptops and wireless connections are this generations’ printing-press. The line between social use and educational use of these technologies is indistinguishable by this generation because it is not a tool; it is a way of life.

If students would understand that their education is their responsibility instead of approaching class time as “teach me or else” then we would not be talking about this problem. The ability to engage the learner is not the teacher’s responsibility, it is our curse. It is a problem that is forced upon us every day. How can we truly engage a student who runs at “twitch speed” when we don't? The teacher who is capable of working at this speed and can "keep all the plates spinning" will be the teacher who reaches these students. However, the attempt to reach them with technology has backfired because these “twitch-speed” students are capable of multitasking but can’t because they lack the skills to focus on a standardized education.

Ahh…standardized education! Sounds like a topic for my next entry.

Sources:

Foster, A (2008, June 13). Law Professors Rule Laptops Out of Order in Class. Retrieved June 20, 2008, from the Chronicle of Higher Education Web site: http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i40/40a00104.htm

Gardner, H (2007). How Education Changes: Considerations of History, Science, and Values. Retrieved June 20, 2008, Web site: http://pzweb.harvard.edu/Pis/HowEducationChanges.pdf

Prensky, M (2001). Digital game-based learning: practical ideas for the application of digital game-based learning. St. Paul, MN: Paragon House.