The central message of the movie, Mr. Dancealot, is that for certain skills, students need hands on experience to learn. This is especially true when it comes to learning a dance. The conclusion of the movie was that none of the students knew how to dance during their demonstrative final. The author made the case for this conclusion by teaching the students, but not in the way that the students could understand or learn from. The author demonstrated the dance moves, but was behind a desk, so that the students could not see what he was doing. I do not agree with the conclusion. I believe that students should be able to demonstrate what they have learned during a final with confidence and success.
Roberts states that teachers are no longer the main source of knowledge for students, but the filter. He also believes that teachers should teach skills rather than facts and content. In the video, Teaching in the 21st Century, Roberts asks the viewer (presumably a teacher) when the last time he or she had their students create something. Today, creating includes blogging, podcasting, animating, and programming. Basically, Roberts thinks that as technology is changing, teachers have to change the ways they teach. Teachers need to rethink the tools they use to teach and the problems they ask students to solve. There are now online ways for students to share work with teachers and collaborate with other students. Roberts argues that no matter what tools you use to teach, your lesson must be relevant, challenging, and engaging. Roberts also argues that new gadgets are not just used for passive entertainment, but for active engagement. I completely agree with Roberts. This will affect me as a teacher because I will begin my career while the change from a traditional classroom is still occurring. I am excited to be a part of this experience and implement Roberts' ideas.
I learned from the movie, The Networked Student, by Wendy Drexler, that the 21st century student is all about connections with each one having the possibility of being a new learning opportunity. I learned that there will be a problem with information management in the 21st century. The teacher of a networked student is responsible for helping the student build these connections and seek new learning opportunities. She also helps guide him in communication with others through the internet, how to tell good information from bad, and help with organizing the students surplus of information.
The thesis of Vicki Davis' video, Harness Your Students’ Digital Smarts, is to use new software and technologies to connect student to the world. She believes that teachers do not have to know everything to teach and that one can learn from his or her students. I love Davis' positive attitude on using technology in the classroom. I like the idea of giving students new perspectives on what is out there in the world and using technology of every type so that all students can learn.
I have never heard of flipping a classroom until I watched Flipping the Classroom. Although I am all for using technology to teach students at home and in the classroom, I do not think that this approach will be useful to me as a teacher. As a future elementary or special needs teacher, I do not think this approach would be appropriate for my students.
