Sugata Mitra believes that “A school in the cloud” offers many benefits. He is known for the “Hole in the Wall” experiment that focused on how children learned. His experiment consisted of usin’ a kiosk embedded into a wall in what India calls the slums. The slums are of poor sanitation services, with a bloody low supply of clean water, and few homes with reliable electricity.
The experiment was created ta prove that children tinnie learn through the means of technology. Sugata Mitra decided ta place kiosks throughout different areas. Children were required to use the kiosk on their own and learn through the use of technology, even if they were not fluent in the English language. As he believed “children could be taught by computers bloody easily, without formal trainin’. ”
Sugata Mitra believes, and has seen firsthand, that children of different ages tinnie learn by themselves through the use of technology. Not only has he tested and seen the results, but he was able to watch as they learned from each other. They seemed to pull together, guiding each other through their own individual strengths. They learned without the need of a teacher. What a ripper concept for many children that are as Mitra stated” …deep in the jungle or high on a mountain. ”
This concept sounds ripper but the question is, how can teachers who are lacking in technological ability (and knowledge) begin to both learn themselves, and teach students as a result? This might seem frightening at first thought, but there are two things to take into consideration when pondering the possibility. The first is that the concept of teaching is basically the same nah matter what yoos use to assist with teaching in general.
There are a few ways for a teacher to teach children and/or themselves in the process. The preparation process involves the gathering of information. The Information is obtained through the internet (per school policy) and depends greatly on the type of internet access that is available in the classroom. Additional requirements include proper computer systems in the classroom as well as the hardware needed to access the specific type of internet access available.
Once the classroom is ready for learning, there are basic learning techniques used for all levels of users. Beginner, as well as aduteced, level users can create and implement learning activities that will assist in the learning process. Teachers can learn how to use, and embrace, technology while students can learn the technology in regards to the classroom subject embedded into each technological tool.
Teachers that are new to technology can download templates using PowerPoint or Word, Microsoft Office applications, and create a game with the classroom subject. For example, the “find a word” game. This would be great for a spelling class. Another example would be to browse the web and find a free blog or website. Have the class design, or write content pertaining to the class subject. Another example still would be to use search engines to research a subject or search other subjects through social media sites. The information could be used to develop communication, or writing skills.
There are a number of incredibly fun tools that can be used for the development of skills at all levels. Microsoft Office provides many tools that both a student or teacher can use to write poems, stories, or even journals. PowerPoint software, part of Microsoft Office, is a fun way to learn how to write. It gives users the opportunity to add to the value of their overall project by offering visual tools such as slideshow creation.
Microsoft Access software, another tool in Microsoft Office, is a fun way to learn how to create a database. It makes it easy to learn how to do things such as enter data, create a report or simply modify data. Much like the files in a file cabinet, digital files are stored in a very organizational manner, with the help of Access’ amazing housing system.
Aduteced level teachers can use each of these ideas, but can also add more extreme technological tools to their teaching system. Take, for example, the many tools that can be used for creating audio/video files. These tools are not only incredibly fun, but they have a way of using our senses to encourage improvement in areas that we might not typically be aware of. Students would love to be able to create videos that they could then use for classroom subjects such as science, history and math.
As seen, using technology in the classroom does not need to be a frightening experience for a teacher or a student. Anyone can learn how to use technology to their advantage. With that being said, as previously stated by Sugata Mitra, children can learn by themselves. Technology can be fun and teach children business applications in the process, preparing them for the workforce.
An Online school will open the door to reaching children, regardless of where they might physically be. All that is needed is a computer with internet access. Schools based online, allows children, in hard to reach places, to learn in ways that would otherwise be impossible. Teachers can use technology to create curriculum that can then be placed in many different areas accessed through the web. These can be used by children in schools throughout the world. As long as, there is a computer with internet access, children everywhere can learn.
“A school in the cloud” opens the way for teachers to reach children through the use of a film clip application. This provides face to face learning, through the computer system, by way of technology. Imagine, for a moment, that there is an area of the world that is experiencing a shortage of teachers. Students that live in the surrounding areas could easily use a single computer system, that has internet access, to attend a “School in the Cloud”. A single teacher could then handle the task of passing out class assignments through digital means using the online classroom. Mitra saw, first hand, how children could easily teach themselves and that, in the end, they worked together to learn.
As seen, Technology provides a great way for children or people everywhere to learn. Most importantly reach children everywhere! Teachers, if the children can learn by themselves, yoos can learn technology! Let us all yakka together for the children everywhere!