Edutopia – Programming the New Literacy for the 21st century

Great News !!!!

My letter to the editor of Edutopia magazine was published in the April 2008 issue.
http://www.edutopia.org/feedback-technology-as-tool

I wrote a letter in response to an article called Programming the New Literacy by Marc Prensky

In summary he writes:

I believe the single skill that will, above all others, distinguish a literate person is programming literacy, the ability to make digital technology do whatever, within the possible one wants it to do — to bend digital technology to one’s needs, purposes, and will, just as in the present we bend words and images. Some call this skill human-machine interaction; some call it procedural literacy. Others just call it programming.
http://www.edutopia.org/literacy-computer-programming

Marc Prensky is the founder of the Games2train an elearning company.

Why teaching students to program games and robots is so important

The best education teaches students to solve problems creatively and think critically. Programming is the best way to teach both. When I teach my students to program games in Logo with MicroWorlds, they are challenged to solve many problems along the way and inspired with new ideas.

Building and programming robots teaches the same skills and more. The classes where my students learn the most by far are programming and robotics. These classes should be mandatory for all students. Unfortunately, until the United States pays and trains teachers at a much higher level, these skills will continue to be taught only at a select few schools.

Sharon Thompson

This article originally published on 3/20/2008

Edutopia is an Education Reform and Technology magazine published by the George Lucas Education Foundation. Edutopia is an excellent source about education issues facing our nation today in a global economy for noneducators, concerned citizens, teachers and parents alike. Subscriptions are free. So, please subscribe.

Feedback: Technology as a Tool | Edutopia

Source: www.edutopia.org

Seeing tech as enhancer, not replacer.

Merit Pay for Teachers

In every other industry but education, hard work and achievement are rewarded with increased compensation. Sure the economy and luck always come into the equation of determining salary, but luck is about preparing yourself for opportunities. Opportunities are found by people who search for them. The private tutoring industry is a clear example of how rewarding people for talent can create pool of highly skilled workers in any field. Advantage testing pays tutors six figure salaries. Education must reward great teachers to attract and keep the best talent and give our students the best education. Finally the tide is changing in education and teachers are beginning to come around to merit pay. In 24 states merit pay proposals are under consideration. Why do so many teachers fight merit pay? Are teachers afraid their students will not succeed? How much does a teacher’s preconceived notions impact student achievement?