I think the Prensky Challenge is more theoretical than practical in its proposal that students spend the bulk of the school year immersed in a technologically based learning environment after accomplishing more traditional learning in the course of one semester. While I agree that teachers need to better examine what they do in the classroom and how they can enhance and facilitate learning among all learners—including those with special needs—the challenge presented by Prensky seems overreaching in its conception.
Although virtually all students embrace technology and often are better at working new gadgets than most adults--adults who frequently need the assistance of children to use their own technological devices—not all students learn best using the technological materials and approaches Prensky advocates. To be sure, technology enriches the lives of all who use it but it may not function as the principal motivation that underlies the desire to learn and the ability to do so. Motivation is based in part on the need to accomplish, achieve and learn and the sense of competence, mastery and esteem it provides. To the extent approaches to instruction tap into what motivates the learning of individual students and how successful they will be in their mastery of tasks, learning and the process of learning will be welcome challenges in its own right.
Is Prensky’s Challenge the right approach for some groups? Absolutely. Is it the right approach for all students? Probably not.
Although virtually all students embrace technology and often are better at working new gadgets than most adults--adults who frequently need the assistance of children to use their own technological devices—not all students learn best using the technological materials and approaches Prensky advocates. To be sure, technology enriches the lives of all who use it but it may not function as the principal motivation that underlies the desire to learn and the ability to do so. Motivation is based in part on the need to accomplish, achieve and learn and the sense of competence, mastery and esteem it provides. To the extent approaches to instruction tap into what motivates the learning of individual students and how successful they will be in their mastery of tasks, learning and the process of learning will be welcome challenges in its own right.
Is Prensky’s Challenge the right approach for some groups? Absolutely. Is it the right approach for all students? Probably not.
1 comment:
You hit the nail on the head-- it might be right for SOME students. Much like differentiated instruction, schools are making the shift from "one size fits all" to some sizes fit some.
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