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Your Technology Belief

Students Know Technology—Yet They Fail

What is Your Opinion

Improving Schools With Technology

What is Your Learning Style

Twenty-five Students-twenty-five Learning Styles

References

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Introduction

Many New York City middle school students are similar to young people who Wiles and Bondi (2007) termed the “neomillennials--children of the Internet age” who, with their various high-tech gadgets, can command technologies that cost billions to develop. “They are wired, they are active [and they use technology in a manner that is frightening] to those of us over 10” (pp. 30-31). Do you believe that many students are more adept at using computers than teachers are?

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Introduction (continued)

Of significance, many of NYC failing middle school students learn to use technology outside of school and without the aid of classroom teachers. Yet, we hear numerous news report that many such students cannot read, or even learn. Consequently, voluminous data and school reports reveal that many of them are chronically failing and were held back, sometimes more than once.

Why would technology adept students in NYC urban schools be failing?

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Introduction (continued)

While technology adept students are failing, teachers are amazed at the manner in which they quickly learn and master new technology devices. Additionally, their schools have a major problem trying to ban them from using such devices during class.

Because of their actions, it appears that some school administrators are oblivious to the fact that those students will not sit quietly to hear a dull and sedate lecture. Those students are active and programmed to learn with technology.What is your opinion?

Introduction( continued)

Dunn and Dunn (1999) revealed that students have different learning styles preferences, and if students are first introduced to lessons in their strongest learning style suite then reinforced with their weaker suite, effective teaching and learning will occur.

Presently, from the emerging evidence, it appears that learning with technology is the strongest learning style suite of the wired generation (Wiles & Bondi; Zucker 2008).How can you use technology to improve teaching and learning for your students? 5

Introduction (continued)

Even if teachers knew about the various learning styles, it would be difficult for them to know and appeal to the learning styles of all 25 or more students in their classrooms.

The result in such situations, is that teachers teach to their own learning style strength, which may be antithetical to their students’ learning style preferences. How can teachers know their learning style preference and if it differs from your students?

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Introduction (continued)

More often, the sedate learning style of teachers in academic schools is diametrically opposed to the kinesthetic and the tactual learning styles preference of wired students who learn better globally rather than analytically, and by using their body, or by moving around (Dunn & Dunn, 1999).

Zucker (2008) revealed that using technology is a way for teachers to appeal to all their students’ various learning styles to achieve successful teaching and learning.How can what is being taught satisfies Zuker’s posit?

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Wiles, J., & Bondi, J. (2007). Curriculum development: A guide to practice (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

Zucker, A. A. (2008). Transforming schools with technology: How smart use of digital tools helps achieve six key educational goals. Cambridge, MA: Harvard

Education Press.

References (continued)