Author Archives: knlistman

Game-driven learning

Posted on July 4, 2013 by knlistman

Playing games is fun. Make them available via internet on hand-held devices. Viola! endless access to fun. A recent invasion of such endless fun entered our schools in the form of an app called Fun Run. Fun Run didn’t have … Continue reading →

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Why do I need to know this?

Posted on July 2, 2013 by knlistman

Students often ask “Why do I need to know this?” not because the subject is irrelevant, but  because they struggle to learn. The answer to “How am I going to use this in real life?” depends on what their life will be … Continue reading →

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When does “engaging” interfere with learning?

Posted on June 29, 2013 by knlistman

Recently, I was surprised to see an article by Ruth Clark entitled “Why Games Don’t Teach.” According to research, a simulation game made a less effective teaching tool than a computerized tutorial.[1] One of the things that I noted as my … Continue reading →

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How crazy are you?

Posted on June 28, 2013 by knlistman

Recently my daughter showed me an inverted Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, balanced on the tiny point of  self-actualization. It was the “Artist’s hierarchy of needs” because creating was more important than eating or sleeping. Despite Abraham Maslow’s theory that fulfillment … Continue reading →

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The disadvantages of being creative

Posted on June 27, 2013 by knlistman

Creative students often display characteristics that teachers simply do not like. When I asked teachers to rank students’ creative acts, many had trouble. Some called the students contrary, lazy or deceitful, and failed to see the creativity involved. I’ve found … Continue reading →

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Videomania III

Posted on June 26, 2013 by knlistman

 What about the claims that I’ve heard? Instruction through video is supposed to be more engaging, save more time and promotes better learning that using traditional methods, such as lecturing or reading assignments. More engaging? Engagement level really depends on both quality and content of video. … Continue reading →

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Videomania II

Posted on June 25, 2013 by knlistman

Videos are often promoted as the best way to educate a population marked by decreasing literacy. I often hear “teenagers watch tons of videos on YouTube,” as a reason to depend on videos in the classroom. A more sophisticated explanation … Continue reading →

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Videomania

Posted on June 23, 2013 by knlistman

It was almost lunch time and the majority of the students had finished their worksheet. The classroom teacher had decided it would be no imposition for him to leave early, so I was left in charge. A few girls in … Continue reading →

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Generation A

Posted on June 21, 2013 by knlistman

Recently I was sitting in the dentist’s office waiting. Across from me was a father and his son that couldn’t have been more than three. The child intently maneuvered a tiny race car across the screen of an iPhone. He … Continue reading →

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The Price of Information

Posted on June 20, 2013 by knlistman

Humankind’s love affair with technology is not a new development. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the  advances in industrial technology were touted as the solutions to problems of crime, poverty, ignorance and the boredom of ordinary daily life. The level of education … Continue reading →

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