"Too Cool for School?" Probably not...

Punya Mishra and Matthew Koehler discuss the fusion of fun and learning through the use of technology in their article, "Too Cool for School? No Way!"

With the growing use of technology for recreational purposes, this leaves educators with the question of how gadgets and technological tools generally used for convenience can be transformed into educational resources. Specifically mentioned by the authors is the need to "repurpose" technology for the classroom, keeping in mind that technology that is considered "cutting edge' to students is far more advanced than the tech tools that many teachers generally use. Through the use of their proposed TPACK model for integration of technology into learning, Mishra and Koehler believe that technology must be combined with a pedagogical knowledge and content knowledge of specific learning objectives, or the use of tech tools are rendered useless in the learning process. I examined three specific examples of microblogging, specialized search engines, and DJ software that can be adapted for more than just casual use, and through the tweaking of an intentional educator can become relevant means of allowing students an exploratory educational experience. I especially appreciated the example of using DJ music mixing software as a means of explaining mathematical concepts by comparing them to music tempos and patterns. As a pianist and music teacher, I thought that this was a fantastic idea because I often inadvertently teach my students fractions when I teach them about tempo in music.

Personally, I felt the underlying theme of using creativity and adaptability in regards to using technology in education was incredibly important. Many teachers would never consider the idea that blogging or using a search engine could be a valuable learning experience in their classroom. The idea that teachers use technology that seems incredibly outdated to their students is generally true. In an age where assignments and homework are going paperless as well as the general workforce, it's time that the classroom caught on. As far as how I would personally apply this article to my future profession, I would say that keeping an open mind to the use of technology is the best lesson I can take away from this article. If I find that I have students who might be able to improve their speech through the use of a music software program or could use a video chat program to make a conversation more comfortable, then I would consider using it as part of their therapy and always keep an open mind to new technological possibilities. I also can't use technology for the sake of using technology. It's often a valuable tool when integrated in the learning process, but it absolutely must be relevant and effective for students and not just a novelty.

This article can be found in the Learning & Leading with Technology Archives, May 2009, Vol. 36, No.7.