2008年12月7日日曜日

What skills do students need to obtain?

I think the one of the most important skills for students is to recognize what digital tools are available out there and to utilize them . No matter what the learning need of a student or professional, chances are there are many Web 2.0 softwares available to assist.
For teacher's aspect, instructional designer should train teachers to use abreast of new digital technology so they can include the technology in their instruction. Of course, the effectiveness itself is controversial topic, but at least, if students are in environment where they use their daily device and collaboration tool or social networking site (including facebook etc.), It may match today's students characteristic (target audience).

I think critical thinking is another skill that is important in the digital age. Because anyone can publish anything on the web, it is important for students to be able to exercise critical thinking skills to distinguish between accurate and inaccurate information. Further, PLE enriches students learning as shifting to student centered environment, but in that learning environment, students have to be critical to any information very quickly. The speed of interaction is really fast. Students are needed to reply very fast to maintain communication sometimes.

1 件のコメント:

Seolim Kwon さんのコメント...

I agree that as new technology emerges, the more critical thinking is expected to the learners. Especially in a web 2.0 environment, whether you are acquiring or either distributing information, you have to validate if it is a correct piece of knowledge. This is because everyone can participate to share knowledge and that knowledge can be so powerfully affect other's live and learning. Therefore, as you said, having critical thinking to distinguish bettwen accurate and inaccurate information is a vital skill in this information age.