We are, as teachers, responsible for the education of our students. How we define that education is different across classrooms, schools, nations, and countries. However, in everyone of those places there are children/adolescents on an exploratory phenomenon. "Worlds Apart," makes you ponder about the access we have to those worlds. But more, about how our students can learn from those kids that seem "so far away." How they can CONNECT with them, without sitting right next to them in a classroom.
Reading/listening to "Worlds Apart", reminds me, that it is my responsibility as a teacher to connect those gaps. Whether they be the 5 feet across the hallway, or the 5000 miles over oceans. Young adults are so engulfed in their lives and other peoples'. Further, they are so attached to their digital self, that not using that developmental phase of their lives and technological innovation to our advantage is irresponsible. I think about the connections that twitter has made in the world of NEWS, not pop culture (though it has it's place in the classroom), we should be taking advantage of it. Or virtually seeing worlds we can't physically get to.
Worlds are no longer parted. How do we as teachers help adolescents responsibly go about bridging that gap and finding value in doing so?
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It is true that educators are responsible for the education of our students. Connecting kids from across the aisle and across oceans and across the world we will all learn so much through such connections. Not just the kids but teachers as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, they may need support in exploring their own lives and hearts especially as they look into learning about other's lives and cultures. For each of them to understand self is not an easy task so they need gentle guides to explore others’ lives as well.
You are so correct about the digital lives of YAs. Their digital footprint is very intact and most kids are very comfortable in doing so. You are so right your using Twitter. Some teachers use it very effectively in the classroom and it is very much a great connector between all kinds of worlds. I think you are correct about Twitter use and the news and can be an effective way for students to learn the right here and now of the world.
We do have to provide multiple types of lessons to help bridge many gaps and the gaps are different form school, classes, and students. The responsibility and process needs to guide joy on their trips. Teachers can provide different aspects of exploration for them and then they can go on the trip. But sometimes when we see a gap students see connections – we have to let them guide us sometimes.
Enjoy the trip and I hope you take many with your students.