"Turning on the Lights"

When we started Sunday school this year, I requested email addresses from each student so I could send them personalized birthday messages and keep them updated on homework and church activities. These kids are twelve years old. When I asked for emails however, I was both surprised and dismayed that only one out of a dozen students even had an email. Thus, Prensky is right-on when he says that we as teachers ought to prepare our students for the future by cultivating technology skills in the classroom. Simple email correspondence would be a great place to start. Although Prensky is right when he says that this generation of students is growing up in the light, it should be noted that many kids are also quite behind technologically. For instance, immigrant students who did not come from the “developed countries” that Prensky notes on, often have no exposure to technology or computers before they come to America. They are faced with culture shock; not just of American culture, but of an overwhelmingly complicated technological culture. The good news is that technology is engaging, and such kids can catch up quickly if they have the atmosphere to learn.



Prensky points out that it is important for old-fashioned curriculums to be re-oriented around what postmodern kids enjoy and find practical. This is true. I will never forget how thrilling, yet challenging it was to learn how to type in middle school key boarding class. His suggestion of allowing kids to come in to work on computers outside of class, is an excellent one; particularly for low SES communities. Yet on the other side of the coin, old-fashioned curriculums should not be thrown out altogether. YouTube videos and robots should not replace hand-made poster projects and essays, but should be added in addition to them. The key is getting kids to use their different learning/intelligence styles and passions towards academics.


A potential disadvantage that I can see critics point out from Prensky’s idea is the possibility that making school too fun might cause kids to take the subjects less seriously. What I have learned through his article though, is that it is absolutely possible to make my subject matter interesting and challenging as long as the curriculum is practical and employs tools that kids are equipped with and like to use.