Learning at high speed

By Peter Lindblad

Technology allows people to do certain tasks at higher speeds. That much is pretty certain, although because of that, they're being asked to do more than ever before. In my old job, as a writer and editor, the ease with which print media professionals can proofread and fact-check today is astounding. Where in the past they might have been forced to keep a library of heavy, fact-filled books at the ready, practically everything they need now is online.

So, what does this have to do with education? Well, for one thing improvements in technology allow for greater coverage of material. And while that word "coverage" seems to be a dirty one these days, as it implies a goal of simply addressing certain subject matter in a superficial manner, educators always seem to feel that they don't have enough time to go over material in class that they feel is important. When it comes to social studies, students can do more in-depth research of different political or historical issues, events or characters whether outside or even inside of class.

Of course, there is another question when it comes to integrating technology with instruction, and that has to do with not letting flash overpower substance. Teachers want to hook their students' interest, and technology offers wonderful opportunities to grab their attention, but there has to be real learning at work and it has to develop higher-order skills. An example I found that offers a good balance between the two is available on the National Geographic Kids web site.

Going under the Games tab, I tried one out that teaches kids about Lewis & Clark's journey. On the screen, there is a map on the upper right side that traces their route to the Pacific Ocean. Just to the left of that are two buttons, one that takes viewers to journal entries related to the expedition and the other offering quick, little nuggets of information about the explorers and their journey. But the real cool feature has to do with the middle of the screen, where the author provides information about a certain segment of the trip and explains what the explorers encountered on the way. What takes it to another level is that it gives viewers options for what they would do next. For example, when Lewis & Clark encounter a daunting mountain passage, the author asks viewers whether they would set up camp and wait for winter's end to continue or whether they would continue on, risking horses and provisions. Whichever button is chosen, that feature takes the viewer to another screen that reveals what decision was made and how it impacted the expedition. Aside from teaching kids about Lewis & Clark and various facts about the expedition, the questions give students a chance to use their critical-thinking skills.  

Another feature I like about National Geographic kids happens to be located under the Geography button. Clicking on it, a screen opens up that includes links to information about different countries and their geographical features. I could use this as a scavenger hunt activity, where I'd have kids search for different land or water features, like rain forests or deserts or rivers, etc. I'd give them a list of things to find from various countries, and they could use their prior knowledge to figure out which countries would probably have those geographical features on their lists.

For those of us that aren't the most tech savvy teachers, the Edutopia article "Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media" is a helpful guide. The list of relevant resources is invaluable, as is its advice for using technology in the classroom. For instance, author Suzie Boss advocates using visual elements to " ... help build background knowledge as they tackle new concepts," and opening up back channel discussion areas for shy students to talk about issues related to class in a safe environment. It also offers great advice for teachers on how to go about finding materials for class projects on the cheap. Technology can certainly help teachers prepare students for the world they will face upon graduation. As educators, we simply must be vigilant in using it to enhance instruction, rather than impede it.