Entertainment vs. Engagement

I recently attended the SC Ed Tech 2013 Conference. One of the great reasons I like this conference is that it is in my town so I don’t have to pay for a hotel! The other reason is that I connect with so many other educators. I always pick up something new from a session and if I don’t learn something new, I’m always looking at how the material is presented in order to hone my own presentation skills.  For the next few days I plan on sharing the notes that I took from the sessions.

  SC Ed Tech Conference – The Keynote Speaker was Doug Johnson.

Http://dougjohnson.wikispaces.com

Difference between entertainment and engagement

Disruptive technologies vs. Distractive technologies

“If I die I hope it is during an inservice because the transition is so subtle.”

Entertainment is for leisure, ephemeral , low relevance, escape, of others, passive

Engagement is for learning. Permanent, critical relevance, solving, of learner, interactive

Wiifm –“what's in it for me.”

Relevance: What you are teaching should be Local, topical, personal

Problems: authentic problems, questions

authentic question -teacher doesn't know the answer

Asking questions is a sign of intelligence.

“Show a kid a movie, you entertained her for an hour.
Give the kid a camera and you engaged her for a lifetime.”

Is the computer telling the child what to do or is the child telling the computer what to do?

Strategy 1: ban it
Reality of banning student owned devices – Unsustainable,, Online resources are useful, Kids go underground Parents want devices used, Positive things happen

Strategy 2:business as usual - Unprofessional

Strategy 3:limit uses
Not during whole group instruction
Not distracting others
Following the AUP
Have list of acceptable uses.
Clear rules and expectations.
Can ease classroom management
Describe the way that it will improve your learning

Strategy 4:enhance educational devices

Strategy 5: restructure the educational process – true differentiated instruction

My Takeaway:
When teachers ask me why we should entertain our students, this gives me a way to share that we don’t need to entertain but we do need to engage our students. I can also share ways to do it.

What things do you do to engage your students? Please share.

Original photo by Pat Hensley