John Finch

Today in our ICT class, John Finch came and spoke to us about literacy with ICT in the classroom. He talked about some key points that we have heard before, but what really caught my attention was the way that we need to prepare our students so that they can be effective in using ICT in their studies. John spoke about how students need to be able to think critically and creatively while also being ethical and responsible. I think it is really important as teachers to be conscious about teaching students these three key areas. So often the use of the internet as a source of information is so easily accessible that proper use is assumed and as a result problems arise.

John also made a point of discussing the vast amount of information that is on the internet and as a result needing to equip students with tools to properly access the information and resources that they are seeking. John suggested teaching students to look at the internet through three lenses: validity, reliability, and currency. Too often students enter a search on the internet and take the first few results that pop up on their screen, looking further would be too overwhelming! As teachers, we need to give students the tools to look for valid, reliable and current information. In providing students with tools to look at the internet in this manner, they will in turn think more critically about the information that they are taking away.

What John talked about echoed what I read in Powering Up this week. How do we educate students so that they are more well rounded thinkers? With information at their finger tips for every question imaginable, students do not need the background knowledge or skills the way that they used to. John began to answer this question for me by talking about how students need to always reflect on their learning so that they will constantly be asking deeper questions and seeking answers and information. When students are taught to look for valid, reliable and current information, they will hopefully not only find the answers they are looking for, but also be curious to search further and delve deeper than they initially intended. As a result they will become more well rounded and educated with background knowledge in areas that interest them.