The Tinkering
Peggy
Thanks for including the page about "tinkering" and "playing" with the technology, and noting how students need that time to understand the possibilities of a tool or program or whatever. And, teachers need that time, too. We need time to be engaged and time to explore.
One of the most exciting things about technology, for me, is shaping a piece of technology to my own needs, particularly when it wasn't designed for that in the first place. That gives me a sense of ownership that I might not have if I followed the strict "rules" on use.
And we need to encourage that mindset -- the hacker mentality -- into our students because even though the technology will surely change, their ability to manipulate for their own needs will not.
Peace,
Kevin
Comments
eric freeman
on Jun 23 2011
at 13:48
exploration
I agree with both of you. I look to the students to support, inform and problem solve with one another anytime we engage in a new technology based project. As with any discipline, allowing time to "tinker" with something new, be that concepts or tangibles, allows us to begin to make sense of the "unknown" by connecting it to our past experiences and knowledge. It becomes more personal than following a series of instructions to gain proficiency. Thanks for remind us that exploration is what leads to discovery.