Blog Post 2

Mr. Dancealot

The focal point within the Mr. Dancealot video was to demonstrate the need of "hands-on" teaching within the classroom. The designer of the video uses the example of a professor instructing a course titled "Social Dance". As the short film develops, one views the instructor demonstrating various moves for classical dances but never allows the students to partake. The students endure PowerPoint presentations that are read to them on a daily basis. At one point, the teacher scolds a gentleman who stood from his seat to observe the proper steps. The audience does not actually view the students perform until the final exam which is rather chaotic. As a music educator, I am a believer in allowing students to use their sensory processors in order to learn. How does one learn certain subjects when there is no physical interaction? I cannot teach a child to properly tune a violin unless I show them how then step back and let them try it themselves. 

What Does It Mean to Teach in the 21st Century?

In Kevin Robert's What Does It Mean to Teach in the 21st Century?, one is forced to realize that the "traditional" form of teaching is becoming extinct. Teaching is no longer about using a chalkboard or whiteboard, but integrating modern aspects, such as Blogger, Twitter, and other social media sites, into the classroom. Teachers are still intricate factors in the world of education, but it appears that our roles are being redesigned. One can demonstrate and lead a student in the direction that is needed, and we can give them the tools to acquire additional information. Educators should learn to adjust to the changes in society so that the next generation will be prepared for their future. 

The Networked Student

The video entitled The Networked Student explored the idea of "Connectivism" which is essentially giving students the tools to teach themselves. In my opinion, this can be viewed as negligence by the instructor. I do agree that integrating numerous versions of technology in the classroom assist in the learning environment, but to assign a student with the task of being responsible completely in reference to the course they are enrolled in is a bit absurd . Regardless of the subject area they teach, an instructor's job is to not only guide, but inspire. Again, I am not against encouraging students to explore other avenues concerning topics being covered in the classroom, but a teacher should teach. One section that I did like within this approach is having the students share materials they found on their own with their classmates. Personally, I prefer to be more of an interactive and personable instructor who also encourages my students to discover additional ideas. 

Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

Vicki Davis's video, Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts, illustrated how one can effectively use technology in the classroom by teaching something as simple as the use of a search engine to international collaboration. Davis states that students are "limited by just paper and a pencil". As a music teacher, one of my goals is to expose students to various forms of music from around the world. Without incorporating a computer, my classes would not experience the different genres and sounds. I love the idea of having students interact with individuals in other countries and working with them to complete a common objective.

Flipping the Classroom

The final video, Flipping the Classroom, discusses the idea of having students watch presentations of new material before the teacher introduces the topic in class. The pros to this approach of teaching is that the students will be slightly familiar with the work before class and can ask questions pertaining to the subject; however, there are some issues. If the student does not have the resources to obtain the data (i.e. no access to a computer at home), will the child be behind their peers? Another concern is whether or not the parents/guardians will actually assist the child in learning. As a former traveling teacher, I could detect students who had a healthy home life that encouraged their educational growth and others who experienced the complete opposite. Several teachers often complained about certain parents who never seemed to care about their child's education. I believe the concept is wonderful, but there are too many flaws for it to actually work in the long run.