How can educators use new media to better reach and teach Alaska's students?
Once, not so long ago, students referenced encyclopedias and reference books when doing research and writing reports. Yet the term "encyclopedia" is becoming archaic with the current age of high speed internet and social media. Teachers now have the capability of showing their classes, from a birds-eye-view of sorts, just about any location or topic at the click of a mouse... or the touch of a screen.
In Alaska this translates to educators closing the gap between Alaskan students and the "outside" world simply by employing their own imaginative and inquisitive approach to learning. As teachers guide the learning and explorations of students they now can do so by exposing students to modern technology within the classroom. This includes the use of such resources as the Alaska Digital Archives when teaching on Alaskan history, streaming of video clips that aid the topics taught within the classroom, connecting with their class through social media sites that in turn foster homework discussion and parental involvement, and the list goes on. Thus with a creative and inquisitive approach toward online media, educators have a wealth of knowledge and learning experiences at the tips of their fingers when it comes to teaching Alaskan students.
Why is an awareness of place important?
An awareness of place is important because it allows one to better understand and more effectively communicate with the people who populate that place. This in turn leads to the ability to effect positive change for the good of those who call that place home.
The world is made up of discourse communities that largely draw their dynamics and identities from the place in which they live. An example of this would be Alaska as a macrocosmic discourse community in which familiar and accepted terms would include terms such as "the lower 48," "the outside," and even such terminology as "mosquito dope" that someone from outside the Alaskan discourse community may not readily understand and could misinterpret. Then there are the many ideas surrounding the limitations of transportation, industry and infrastructure that only those who live in Alaska can truly understand and appreciate when compared with similar components of the 48 contiguous states. Awareness of the place in which one lives can therefore mean the difference between mere survival/disconnectedness and a thriving/connected relationship to that place due to an awareness of the land, resources, history, language and people.
How can awareness of place create better learning for Alaskan students?
Awareness of place can create better learning for Alaskan students by fostering interest in those topics that directly relate to them and their livelihoods. This awareness and interest in the place in which they live creates a drive for learning because the knowledge gained is perceived as valuable, useful and directly relates to issues they may know well. An example of this would be the awareness of the shortage of medical providers per capita within the state and a student's subsequent interest in courses that would prepare him or her for a career in the healthcare field.
"An awareness of place is important because it allows one to better understand and more effectively communicate with the people who populate that place."
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. I have seen very nice people come in and offend someone. It's difficult to watch because you know no malice was meant. Understanding who people are is a major component to good communication.