Author Archives: knlistman

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 →

Posted in Education trends, Gaming in education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Creativity, Education trends | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Creativity, Education trends | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education trends, Technology in education | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education trends, Technology in education | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Education trends, Technology in education | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in The information age | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in The information age | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Disconnected

Posted on June 19, 2013 by knlistman

I used to view movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Colossus: The Forbin Project, as completely improbable. As far as I was concerned computers were machines without autonomous thought; they had neither the capacity or desire to rule … Continue reading →

Posted in The information age | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Games make you smarter at what?

Posted on June 18, 2013 by knlistman

If you have been paying any attention to news about using games for education, you’ve heard of Dr. Daphne Bavelier. There have been numerous articles repeating what she summarized in her TED Talk  – that research shows playing video games (the … Continue reading →

Posted in Education trends, Gaming in education | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment