Submitted by Paul (not verified) on February 3, 2008 - 00:53.
Does not exist, in text books, in video games, podcasts, cell phones or any other "buzz" gadget people wish to throw into the mix. The question is redundant unless you can define effective teaching within a frame that fits. I challenge anyone to do that.
Learning comes from engagement with hands on projects that are relevant to the students lives. It matters not whether this is a stick with a hoop (Physical Sciences), to a walk in the park looking at caterpillars (Biology), to creating their own personal calendar using technology or playing an educational game to teach math.
The tool does not come first, the need does. The tool will stand up to evaluation upon use! However, we as educators, have to make sure that the lines are not blurred between educational tools for learning and games for crowd control!
So let us not argue over which tool is the best, I loved playing "Cops and Robbers" when I was a kid, I too watched television. At school I wasn't allowed to watch crime TV shows but often saw well constructed educational films. The TV was not the issue but the content.
As educators that should be our focus delivering good quality, relevant material, to those young minds in a multitude of ways and formats, so that we maximize those we can reach.
The Silver Bullet
Submitted by Paul (not verified) on February 3, 2008 - 00:53.
Does not exist, in text books, in video games, podcasts, cell phones or any other "buzz" gadget people wish to throw into the mix. The question is redundant unless you can define effective teaching within a frame that fits. I challenge anyone to do that.
Learning comes from engagement with hands on projects that are relevant to the students lives. It matters not whether this is a stick with a hoop (Physical Sciences), to a walk in the park looking at caterpillars (Biology), to creating their own personal calendar using technology or playing an educational game to teach math.
The tool does not come first, the need does. The tool will stand up to evaluation upon use! However, we as educators, have to make sure that the lines are not blurred between educational tools for learning and games for crowd control!
So let us not argue over which tool is the best, I loved playing "Cops and Robbers" when I was a kid, I too watched television. At school I wasn't allowed to watch crime TV shows but often saw well constructed educational films. The TV was not the issue but the content.
As educators that should be our focus delivering good quality, relevant material, to those young minds in a multitude of ways and formats, so that we maximize those we can reach.