*+Week+2+-+Connecting+with+the+Digital+Learner

=**Week 2 Journal (with a few comments from Week 1)**=

While looking over the PDF version of the Teacher Needs Assessment, I categorized the Web 2.0 tools I use, only know about, and know nothing about. =**Comments about the software I know about but don't use**=
 * < **I Use** ||< **I Know about** ||< **I Know Nothing about** ||
 * < Wiki ||< Blog ||< Sketch Up ||
 * < Podcast ||< Social Networking ||<  ||
 * < Upload and Download Video ||< Digital Story Telling ||<  ||
 * < Image Sharing/Editing ||< Google Docs ||<  ||
 * < Blackboard ||< Open Office ||<  ||
 * < Moodle ||< Google Reader ||<  ||
 * < Instant Message ||< Prezi ||<  ||
 * < Google Earth ||<  ||<   ||
 * < Picassa ||<  ||<   ||
 * Google Docs, Open Office, and Google Reader are easy to use. I don't use them because I have access to similar software.
 * Social networking sites like My Space and Facebook are difficult for me to visualize a use for. My students often ask if I have accounts there and suggest that I put course information on the. This is something I should learn.
 * Blogs and Twitter are not on my //To Do// list - probably should be, but I don't think I have anything important to say right now. I do enjoy reading Dvorak's blog at times.
 * Digital Storytelling seems like something I would enjoy. I just don't have enough time to invest in it right now.
 * Prezi is a new type of presentation software I just learned about in our Facilitators' Forum. I have already shared information about it with two of my friends. This is the next form of technology I intend to learn about.

=[|The 21st-Century Digital Learner]=

by [|Marc Prensky]
As I read this article, the author's questions sounded like good ones. //"My approach, when conducting these panels, is to first ask the students a few setup questions:// //The kids are allowed to pass if they don't want to answer, which takes some of the pressure off, and the audience is invited to join in later.//"
 * //What experiences in school really engaged you?//
 * //How do you use technology in school as opposed to outside of school?//
 * //What are your pet peeves?//

**Readers of my Wiki, What do you think?**
Related to this article are two valuable YouTube videos; [|A Vision of Students Today] [|A Vision of K-12 Students Today] You will find both videos interesting.
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=[|Connecting to the 21st-Century Student]=

by [|Josh McHugh]
This paragraph in the article struck me; "The typical kid's reaction is, 'I'm bored to tears,'" says Moersch. "'There's a total disconnect between my life and what's going on in the classroom.'" But if that changes, the effect on learning could be immediate and widespread. More than half the students in a nationwide survey by the National Governors' Association said their classwork is easy, and two-thirds reported they would work harder if their coursework were more interesting or challenging.

I wonder if our students would really work harder if their coursework were more interesting or challenging. It is an interesting thought. What do you think?
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