This is the third in a series of articles written by Mark Benn, technological consultant to StarTeaching, which deals with the importance of changing the way we teach while integrating technology into the curriculum. In the first article, I briefly discussed the importance of involving the students into the learning process and teaching the students to become self directed learners. In this article I will present why I support the information on the site cited below. Observations in my classroom over the past three years have directly coincided with this information. Arguing over the validity of the research doesn't change the fact that it is accurate in practical classroom settings.



You can find more information on this article series by checking our our website at http://www.starteaching.com/technology.htm

There is nothing more enjoyable within the classroom than listening to students in groups or pairs when they get involved in their own learning.

Too often we as teachers think that we are the knowledgeable ones and must know all the material before we present it. At the rate that knowledge is advancing in today's world that is very hard to do. In the same way if we want to use any technology within our curriculum we think we have to know how to use it first.

It's time that we give students some credit and empower them to become self-directed learners. Our job is to set the overall goals and then become the coach on the sidelines stepping in when needed. A coach provides the direction and vision, but lets the students move forward with that vision. It's time to allow the student to take ownership of their own learning.

The following website shows how much better a learner retains what they have learned when they become active in their own learning compared to having things told to them. Last month, we highlighted the learning pyramid located at this web site:

http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal2.htm

I think you will find after looking at this pyramid and comparing it to what you have seen in the classroom, that though the percentages may differ, the order of retention is correct.

In the next article I will discuss a look at the future of education, integrating the hand held computers (formerly called Palm Pilots) into the classroom.

For more information, Mark Benn can be reached online at his blog site, www.furtrader.blogspot.com He welcomes comments and shared discourse on the subject of educational technology.

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To view the next article in this series, as well as to see our archives of teaching and educational ideas, check out our website at the quick link below:

http://www.starteaching.com/technology.htm

Frank Holes,

editor@starteaching.com