Article Response: Why Kids Can't Sit Still

       This article addressed the growing number of children being diagnosed with ADHD.   It talked about students losing confidence in themselves because they are unable to sit still when asked to and students who have underdeveloped balance because they do not practice prolonged movement on a daily basis. Kids need regular movement for proper development, but they are being asked to sit still all day at school only to go home and stay inside rather than go out and play.
       I think one way to solve this problem in the classroom is to simply lower the standards for children sitting still in the classroom. If children need movement for development and healthy learning, then teachers should encourage rather discourage movement in the classroom. Kids should not be scolded or made to feel like they are doing something wrong for fidgeting in their desks. Teachers should also encourage movement by incorporating it into their lesson plans. They can demonstrate concepts through interactive lessons that get kids out of their desks and moving around the classroom. This addresses the problem of kids sitting still too long as well as giving students a new way to think about the concept.  

21st Education Videos

The first video showed students using their phones and only their phones in the classroom. The phones connected to larger screens that allowed students to share with the class, but there were no notebooks or textbooks. The students got all of their information and did their recording on their smart phones. While this is a fun idea, I do not think it would be a very successful way to run a classroom. It is not easy to monitor what every student has pulled up on their phones, and there are endless distractions placed in front of the student when they use their phones to work. Also, staring at the small screens all day in school would be harmful to a student's eyesight. ebooks have lots of benefits, but sometimes it is better to read from paper without any glare or distractions.

The second video made predictions about the future of high school classes being online and listed benefits on online education. I do agree that there are lots of benefits to online study. It gives the student access to lots of new information and connects the student to teachers and learners across the world. I do think there are some drawbacks to complete online education. I think that human interaction is important in the learning process. Again, I think there is a lot of opportunity for distraction to creep in when the student relies solely on the web for learning.

The third video advocated the use of ICT in the classroom, but it emphasized using it wisely. Access to technology is not enough. Educators must be well equipped to use the technology in the way that is most beneficial to the students. I agree with the points made in this video, that teachers should be trained in new technology in order to implement it in their classroom and that students should be allowed access to ICT for specific purposes.

The fourth video talked about the architecture of the classroom. It advocated open areas for learning and environments that helped students feel connected with the world outside rather than shut off. I think that the ideas presented in this video are important and that students would benefit greatly by having a learning environment that is more comfortable and natural to them than traditional square classrooms. The classrooms shown in the video were good fro promoting creativity and collaboration.

The fifth video listed lots of resources that available for teachers and students. It gave little information about ti resources, their purposes, and their effectiveness. I did not find this video to be helpful.