Infomation about Steve Wheeler

Steve Wheeler is an Associate Professor of learning technology in the Faculty of Health Education and Society at Plymouth University. He chairs the Plymouth e-Learning Conference and serves on the editorial boards of ten international journals, including the open access publications Research in Learning Technology (formerly ALT-J), Digital Culture and Education, and IRRODL. He is the chair of the UNESCO sponsored IFIP WG 3.6 (Distance Education). He's a Fellow of the European Distance and E-learning Network (EDEN) and a member of EDEN's NAP steering group. His research interests include e- learning, distance education, creativity and Web 2.0 social software.

Are you a meerkat or an ostrich?

You may be thinking what I mean by that title. In fact, that's the title of a very engrossing article I've read by Steve Wheeler. He is an Associate Professor in Learning Technology in the Faculty of Health, Education and Society, at Plymouth University.

In his article, Wheeler writes about the uncertainty about our students' future. Everything changes so rapidly nowadays that jobs existing today, will probably disappear in twenty years’ time. That's a highly problematic issue for teachers in that they do not know what to teach or if what they are already teaching is going to help students in their future life.

We (I consider myself a future teacher) want to help our students to become self-sufficient people, we wish them to be successful in their future jobs, but at the same time we don't know what is going to happen in the near future. We are shocked constantly to hear news as regards politics, economy and education that threaten us when it comes to teaching. What teachers used to teach some years ago now is old fashioned.

As the author expresses, we find people that turn a deaf ear to this uncertainty and those who try to be constantly updated, improving their own skills at teaching and offering innovative tools to students. As the professor says, "Whether we are meerkats, looking out and anticipating the challenges, or ostriches burying our heads in the sand, the challenge remains, and it is growing stronger."

The author advises us to create environments in which students can be exposed to negotiating, to practice new communication methods through the use of new technologies and not only via face-to-face conversations. That's the only way in which teachers can help students to be independent men and women: generating propitious situations in which they find the tools for solving problems right now and in their future.

"Will you be looking out to see what is on the horizon, or will you hide your head in the sand?"

To conclude I share a well-known phrase that I think we can't forget as 21st century teachers:

"I never teach my students. I only provide the conditions in which they can learn."

Albert Einstein

Here I leave you the link where you'll find the article in case you would like to read it:

http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/are-you-meerkat-and-ostrich.html

Regards!!

Digital Natives VS Digital Immigrants??

On this first occasion, I would like to share with you my personal views as regards a very interesting article called "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants" by Marc Prensky (at the bottom you'll find the link to read it if you like).

Firstly, I will comment on whom I consider to be "Digital Natives" after reading Prensky's article. Secondly, I will choose a quote from the above-mentioned article I completely agree with and another one I disagree with.

DIGITAL NATIVES are a new generation of students that think and learn in a different way to ours. Those students are going to be the students we'll have to teach every day at school, so it's no use going against them and their own skills and strategies to learn. Quite the contrary, we are expected to take full advantage of those new ways of learning.

According to the author, "Digital Immigrants teachers assume that learners are the same as they have always been, and that the same methods that worked for their teachers when they were students will work for their students now." In my humble opinion, I can't think of teaching without considering my students' contexts, their likes and dislikes, etc. Teaching in the same way we have learned means turning a blind eye to new ways of learning. Obviously, new technologies affect the way people learn and new ways of acquiring knowledge have developed over time.

"A frequent objection I hear from Digital Immigrant educators", says Prensky, "is that this approach is great for facts, but it wouldn't work for 'their subject'. Nonsense. This is just rationalization and lack of imagination". In this case I don't agree with Digital Immigrants educators because, as the author expresses, the fact that this approach wouldn't work for our subject is "just rationalization and lack of imagination". We tend to think that using computers in our English lesson or designing a PowerPoint presentation is a waste of time and so it isn't worth the risk. But new technologies are a great source of information and a fantastic way to prepare attractive lessons. There are many things to do according to the subject in discussion. English, in particular, is a subject that lends itself to be taught through the use of computers, videos, and such like. As a consequence, teachers must be able to see the advantages of implementing new technologies when teaching.

I hope these opinions help you to reflect upon the use of new technologies in the EFL classroom. It goes without saying that designing new materials and preparing appealing lessons is a very demanding job, but it also means students eager to learn.

Does it sound good? Let's get to work!!

If you are interested in reading the article, here is the link:

http://www.twitchspeed.com/site/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.htm