Generation Z Project

As seen in the video http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-teachers-vicki-davis-video, the way that Mrs.Davis teaches with the use of technology is one that can bring a new wave to make sure students are interested. She uses digital technology to "learn them how to learn" and this looks quite effective. She uses wikis, blogs, podcasts, virtual worlds and other new media tools to connect students from her class with the world. She recommends the use of peer collaboration in her teaching. She chooses a team that will teach to peers every class. It involves student in a way that no other form of teaching would. It makes them more responsible and when they peer-teach, it makes the other students understand, sometimes, more clearly the topic discussed or taught. In this situation, we can say that she empowers the students. By letting them teach the class, it can give them a good chunk of insurance. It makes them responsible and sometimes, provides the teacher with interesting new information that she did not know.

For my point of view, even if I think it's a good and cool idea, I don't think it is important for the students to collaborate with others across the world.  For sure it can provide them a lot of different cultural background and some help from a native speaker, but don't we have already enough on our shoulders?  First of all, does school really have the budget to be equiped as they are?  I doubt that it would be easy to make it happen.  Also, I find that the peer-teaching is a wicked solution to ensure better responsability from our students.   Having students in front of the class can bring a whole new dynamism and can give new knowledge to the teacher also. 

As I was wondering how to use media tools to connect with the world, I googled some words and ended up founding this interesting page, where there is inspiring ways to use social media in the classroom.  If you read it you will see that lots of different ways to use media tools in a fun and interseting way can be done.

 http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2010/05/100-inspiring-ways-to-use-social-media-in-the-classroom/

 Enjoy your reading my precious readers.