3D printing is very cool, there's no doubt. It's the stuff of science fiction, now realized in 2017. Recently I watched a documentary about this very thing titled "Print the Legend". Focused on the 3D printing revolution, it asks the question throughout of, "why not us, and why not now?" Of course, this question is referring to this generation's quest to improve lives through technological innovation.
And certainly, the applications for 3D printing are numerous. However, the question I want to ask here is, "does 3D printing technology have a place in the classroom?" To the "pros" and "cons" we go! Pros *As the 2015 NMC Horizon Report suggests, 3D printing "enables more authentic exploration of objects and concepts that may not be readily available in schools" (Horizon Report, 40). The opportunity for students to produce something which they can touch and hold is significant. It adds a "hands on" dimension to the experience of learning that can't be understated. *It gets students familiar with a technology that seems to be growing exponentially. *It allows visual learners to enter in, more deeply. *It adds a layer of discovery to the classroom setting. Cons *Price- 3D printing technology is still quite expensive (comparably), and is therefore beyond the reach of many classrooms and schools. Related to this, it may be that some schools can afford the technology, while other can't. This means that some students will get to experience 3D printing, while others will be left out. *Training- Teachers will need to be trained. This will take time and resources. *Fad? Are 3D printers the next step forward? Or are they the next smart board? Only time will tell. Ultimately, any piece of technology that can move us forward is a good thing. And I do believe that 3D printers have the capacity to do just that; to move us into another phase of education in schools. "Why not us, and why not now?".
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In the video above (Big Thinkers series/Edutopia), Kurt Squire speaks to the idea that gaming can (and should) lead students into societal/civic engagement. He puts forth the notion that well designed games inevitably lead students to question (in the healthy way) that which they see around them. They begin to ask questions such as "Why are things the way that they are?" Squire suggests that this is precisely what good games, do; they create critical thinkers, and they motivate. Additionally, Squire suggests that games can and should give students the tools that they need in order to be change makers.
I love the heart behind this video/topic. Firstly, this is, in a sense, the redemption of gaming culture. I say this because gamers have a tendency to be looked upon as stagnant; cloistering themselves in order to become something within the virtual realm that they clearly are not, in reality; think World of Warcraft. Secondly, gaming culture is a language that students speak. So why wouldn't we seek to teach using something that is, not only familiar, but driving passions within our students? Of course, there's the age old question, can we afford it? What does implementation look like? Do some students become "haves", while others become "have nots"? And what about those kids that just don't get motivated beyond the scope of the game, itself? These questions are legitimate. However, I think, wherever possible, we should go to the students, and this is a prime example of how gaming can bridge that gap. As a teacher, I would try it. I need to pre curse all of this by stating the following...up front: cloud based storage has been wonderfully useful for me. I love the ease of use; I love the channels for collaboration; and I love the free storage space (my cloud of choice is Google Drive, though there are others). In my estimation, the integration of this technology is a no-brainer for schools of all shapes and sizes. (Though its usefulness within an elementary classroom context is debatable). Not only could [secondary] students connect via a cloud storage service (such as Google Drive) in order to do group work, and store collective research, teachers could also utilize the space in order to gather and share data, shape lesson plans, and prepare team teaching sessions, all from the comfort of their living rooms. And while I agree that safety may be a concern (the Novi side of me has requested that I mention this fact), I'm convinced of it's value as a teaching tool. Cloud storage is here to stay, it can be a valuable contributor to school life, and I would suggest that we all take the plunge and get connected. At its most basic: Adaptive learning technology is designed to discover the needs of its students, adjusting its content, accordingly; this in order to provide a more engaging and effective learning environment/experience. (My Yesvi side) As an idea, I must say, this sounds incredible. If computers can adjust in order to teach that which students need to learn (and presumably they can), it removes much of the [necessary] redundancy of classroom teaching and provides (what I feel) would be an excellent teaching tool. (My Novi side) I value human interaction. I value community, and because of this, I'm weary of technologies that may replace either of those aforementioned values. Maybe this is something that I have to get over. Or, maybe we need to push back against the thought that technology is always the better, brighter solution. I'm a fence sitter. I sit on the fence, and this is something that I need to see more of, before making a call, either way. This blog is a response to the video, "An Introduction to Technology Integration". Watch full video HERE. I love the spirit of this video. It's refreshing to see students who are in a position to harass technology, not for technology's sake, but rather, for the sake of growth and learning. This is the key to the whole tech integration discussion/debate. It forces all of us to ask the question, "are we using technology because it somehow makes us relevant? Or are we using it because it's driving the lesson, and the learning, forward in meaningful ways?" I love my macbook. I do lots of work with my macbook. I believe my macbook to be a meaningful tool in my life. But, would I bring my macbook into a classroom just because I like it? Of course not. I would only cross that threshold if I felt as though the learning within our classroom would benefit from it's inclusion. So, integrate technology. After all, it's a language that (most of) our students speak fluently! But do it purposefully. Technology for learning sake rather than technology's sake. |
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