One Step at a Time

It has been merely two weeks since I began teaching at group of students from Champlain College - St. Lambert. These are not your ordinary run of mill 18 year old students but rather, an eclectic group of adults ranging in ages from their mid twenties through to fifty-four years old. These are students who have lived life, experienced the twists and turns afforded by living that much longer than eighteen year olds, and are serious about learning.

I want to take the opportunity to not only help this group of students succeed in the program and launch their careers or further their studies, but I am convinced they can become 21st century learners. This is a real challenge. Most of my students are not computer savvy, some are comfortable using the computer, some reluctant, others skeptical, a few excited, and then there are the curious. You may be wondering, just what is it I am aiming to achieve. Here it is.
As educators we are focusing almost entirely on upgrading the skills of elementary and secondary level students. There are a plethora of books and articles all supporting and substantiating the need and providing resources in infinite abundance.
What about college level students who are almost entering the job market, who contribute to the economy, our society soon after graduation?
So, I have asked my students to join me in this journey to share in my curiousity to learn. As I have told my students, I am not an expert in digital literacy. I learn along the way, what feeds and fuels me is my drive to learn, to enhance the learning of my students. I also question how we are teaching and assessing students at the college level.
Education needs to change not just for elementary and secondary students, but at college and university level as well.
Join me in this journey of sharing 21st Century Learning.

Taking a Critical Look at College Teaching and Learning

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity | Video on TED.com


For the past few years, the emphasis, time and energy has been focused almost entirely on upgrading the teaching that goes on in elementary, middle and secondary schools. What about how we teach our college and university students? Does it matter that we are sending out students into the work force with inadequate skills; particularly in those areas we need it most. The majority of college students definitely use computers with great facility, they are digital natives - but take a closer look and what we begin to note the limited the range of how they use computers. They use texting instead of email, often in lieu of personal communication, youtube and music videos reign supreme. The bigger, more fundamental question is what are college and university teachers doing to inspire, support and make use of digital tools in their classrooms. Recently, I was teaching at a local college and what became evident is this: college teachers are not using digital tools in their teaching. They still give students the same kind of work to complete, essays and research papers with little consideration for differentiated instruction and digital literacy. It is time that we begin focusing on what and how we are teaching students not only at the elementary and secondary levels, but college and university as well. In my classes, I have students watch some of the most inspiring speakers and presenters from Tedtalks. I want to facilitate excellence, creativity, problem solving and helping students find their own passion and mission in life.
This is one video my students watch, blog on in our class forum and a question I ask throughout my teaching - am I opening more doors than closing?