Monday, September 16, 2013
A First Attempt at Self-Constructed Learning
I have been so perplexed by this story of the "hole in the wall" that caused illiterate children to become web surfers that I decided to create an opportunity for self-directed learning in my class this week. I gave my students a passage from our reading in Shakespeare to see if they could discover the meaning without me. They couldn't. I am sure I need to get further into the book so that I can learn more about the scenario by which self directed learning must take place. I am disappointed that my first attempt did not work, but at with most great new methods, it takes time and focus on the method, frame, and context. I am not discouraged, and I look forward to learning more about the book and trying another attempt at self-contructed/directed learning within my class.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Introduction to the Book
Today I am reflecting on the beginning of the book entitled "Beyond the Hole in the Wall: Discover the Power of Self-Organized Learning," by Sugata Mitra.
What I have learned so far:
In 2003, a team of researchers carved a hole into an Indian slum's wall and installed the village's first computer complete with access to the internet. What followed, was that the local illiterate village children discovered the computer and taught themselves to use the computer solely with the help of each other - and without the help of a teacher. The children grew to master the technology and connected to the rest of the world and learning via the internet. This event led to the creation of the movie Slum Dog Millionaire, which is based on a true story.
The author of this book begins his book by writing about how we need to accept that in the digitized world in which we now live, learning happens increasingly without the teacher. He states that there is power in self-structured learning and describes the book as a first step in a movement to place the classroom learning in the hands of the students - allowing them to use natural intuition and group collaboration to drive their learning processes.
What this means for educators like me:
Reading this book looks to be a journey that will challenge me to allow my students to have more control of their learning in the class room. The book will describe the power of learning in groups, and the power of allowing students to determine how they get to their end result.
What I have learned so far:
In 2003, a team of researchers carved a hole into an Indian slum's wall and installed the village's first computer complete with access to the internet. What followed, was that the local illiterate village children discovered the computer and taught themselves to use the computer solely with the help of each other - and without the help of a teacher. The children grew to master the technology and connected to the rest of the world and learning via the internet. This event led to the creation of the movie Slum Dog Millionaire, which is based on a true story.
The author of this book begins his book by writing about how we need to accept that in the digitized world in which we now live, learning happens increasingly without the teacher. He states that there is power in self-structured learning and describes the book as a first step in a movement to place the classroom learning in the hands of the students - allowing them to use natural intuition and group collaboration to drive their learning processes.
What this means for educators like me:
Reading this book looks to be a journey that will challenge me to allow my students to have more control of their learning in the class room. The book will describe the power of learning in groups, and the power of allowing students to determine how they get to their end result.
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