Comments on: Video: Digital learning shakes up the factory model http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2012/09/28/video-digital-learning-shakes-up-the-factory-model/ News and views on Utah public policy Thu, 16 May 2013 23:35:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Carol Solomon http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2012/09/28/video-digital-learning-shakes-up-the-factory-model/#comment-1958 Carol Solomon Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:18:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news_old/?p=3902#comment-1958 I agree that we are entering a period of time that will increase learning opportunities for our children through technology. While the digital age is and will offer a broader range of learning options, it is important to remember that part of this new learning MUST continue include interactive person to person learning about build relationships that are social, collaborative and supportive. This part of learning is interactive and happens among peers and adults who care. Digitizing schools and learning should be considered a wonderful tool but NOT the only way to learn. We want children who can problem solve, think critically and respond to new challenges.

Many parents think that giving their children opportunities through computers and TV and electronic games are great. I agree. However, they are not necessarily interactive. Consider the young child watching a TV program about reading that is supposed to be interactive. The character asks, “what letter is missing?” then pauses and the child watching excitedly responds, “E!”. This is not interactive, it is one way, the TV’s programmed way. There is no allowance for the TV program to respond to an error that the child may make because it can’t “read” the need of the child.

Yes, technology is wonderful and does truly offer extended opportunities for learning. I agree that we should move forward and add these tools to our classrooms and to our home. However, learning to respond to and interact with others is also a very important part of a child’s learning to be a good citizen in their family, school, community and nation. A computer can’t teach them everything. a GOOD TEACHER will in my mind always be an important guide in the learning journey of a child.

]]> By: Harvey http://sutherlandinstitute.org/news/2012/09/28/video-digital-learning-shakes-up-the-factory-model/#comment-1957 Harvey Mon, 01 Oct 2012 21:08:00 +0000 http://www.sutherlandinstitute.org/news_old/?p=3902#comment-1957 Why are you so anxious to promote an untested learning system that has yet to be fully researched? It’s one thing for a kid to dream…it’s another to actually implement something that works and can be replicated on a large scale. Preliminary research on the digital learning systems currently available is not all that great.

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