#etlead differinces in classroom cultures

"Everything and everyone around us can be seen as a resource for learning"-Douglas Thomas and John Seely Brown 

 In some ways the current classroom environment that I teach in is very similar to the classroom environment that I grew up in.  Thinking back on the on my educational experiences computers were present in the classroom, but they were not used to the power they are used today.  I look at the technology that students are exposed to in the classroom today, but are we using it to it's full potential? In the classroom environment my students work in are surrounded by technology in and outside of the classroom, but as I think about how we use the technology it is not used to its full potential.
      Looking at the overall use of technology and the way students gain information in the current learning environment it is not used past the basic uses.  Research, educational activities, but thinking about the power of technology at the way it can be used their is way more that can be done with technology. Students still learn in a very traditional way-where the teacher presents the information and students are assessed on their comprehension of the material the teachers has presented.  We all know the power technology can have in the classroom, but how do you change the classroom culture to use the internet in a more critical and as a learning environment when students are resident to something different?
     Although I may not see a huge difference in the classroom cultures and the way students obtain information, I see how we need to give students a chance to explore and discover their own learning.  The most powerful component of the technology and the shift in classroom cultures, which I feel I need to harness more, is the community and collaboration students can build.  Alan November looks at the ever changing culture of the classroom and the use of technology.  He discusses the difference between "automating" and "informating".  With automating we just technology on top of what we already do.  "We have kids write a five paragraph essay with a  $2,000 pencils in word processing lab.  Instead he states when need to use technology to help inform students.  If there is not a shift to this we will not shift to a new culture of learning, but continue to have the same classroom environment in a different format. 
   Through the research and work with serious games, the new knowledge of games like Minecraft, reading of both Teach Like a Pirate and A New Culture of Learning we can see the technology as more than just a search engine.  Technology allows students to work collaborative, explore things they may never get a chance to be exposed to, use critical thinking skills to solve real world problems, and allows students to connect and learn from people outside their classroom.  Both the videos and the text examine the powers of the new culture of learning.  
   Watching the video on how the game of Minecraft amazes me how a simple game can have such a powerful impact on students education, thinking strategies, and connection to the overall world.  Both Norman, John, and  all used this game to connect to worlds outside of their own. I found this to be one of the most powerful components of technology. My students have began to talk more about  Drakkart made a valuable connection to the world we grew up in and the world children are growing up in now.  He state, "Minecraft is not just a simple game but a huge sandbox that enables you to play legos virtually but allows you to do different things.  The connection to legos was wonderful, but with technology it takes legos to a whole new level.  Technology, and Minecraft specifically, has allowed students to understand concepts in a larger picture than just the classroom environment. 
    Along with the videos the text book also showed the power of community building and working collectivity with the use of technology.  Thomas and Brown state, "teaching-based approach focuses on teaching us about the world, while the new culture of learning focuses on learning through engagement within the world." As part of the new culture of learning students take charge of their own learning.  "It takes place without books, without teachers, and without classroom, and it requires environments that are bounded yet provide complete free of action within those boundaries."  Students gain insight to different concepts through their own exploration and discussions with others.  One of the most powerful things that was said in the text about how technology was used was what Sam took had nothing to do with the building aspects of the game but, how to communicate with people.  He says not to be mean and comment on something good when you see it.  He states, "The game does not just teach programming: it cultivates citizenship." As a teacher this is what I want my students to be young citizens in this world over anything else. 



Creating A New Culture of Teaching and Learning- Alan November-November Learning.com
http://novemberlearning.com/wp/assets/creating-a-new-culture-of-teaching-and-learning.pdf

A New Culture of Learning-Cultivating the Imagination for a World of Constant Change-Douglass Thomas and John Seely Brown

Drakkart-Why Minecraft Inspires Me http://uasleadership.wordpress.com/site-map/week-six-overview/