The Jacobsen Article and the Henry Jenkins video both provide a call to action in regards to how we educate the youth and prepare them for the future workforce of tomorrow. Both the video and the article have a standpoint of providing and integrating more mobile technology into the realm of education. Major shifts need to occur from our outdated 20th Century education model which is meant for standardization, individualization, and memorization. Education must evolve into a more communal and interactive class structures which is filled with rich meaningful learning experiences. Education must be engaging and provide authentic work for students to truly understand the material provided. Education must also evolve to develop the competencies needed for future adult performance in the workplace. Skills such as networking, team work, question-posing, and critical assessment must be taught and imparted on students to ensure they are ready to be functioning and successful adults in the workplace of the future. In order for this type of educational shift to occur, it is not just a matter of teachers teaching harder. It is imperative that the educational structure goes through a top down deconstruction and reconstruction. It also requires teachers who are engaging and skilled in the material they are presenting to students and also in the craft of teaching. This is where the technology integration comes to the forefront. The internet is not used the same way it was 10 years ago. The internet has become a place of interconnectivity and special interaction. Things such as social media, Google, Wikipedia, Blogger, the iphone and ipad, are all mobile tools which constantly keep students connected to each other and different resources and opinions around the world. New concepts and new ideas present themselves continuously on the internet and with the mobile and hand-held technology of students every day. It is absolutely crucial education systems use and embrace these technologies to the fullest extent to help mold and create an enhanced 21st Century education model.
In reflection to these two media outlets, I have decided to design a sketchnote. The first thing I wanted to start with was my beginning and end. In the Jacobsen Article, it made a point of saying our 20th Century education system must evolve and change using the technology available to us as teachers. This made sense for me to start my sketchnote with 20th Century education. The article also made a point of stating how the internet and computing as a whole have changed. This has created 21st century learning and work spaces. It made sense to me to make my endpoint a greater 21st Century education model. The major points I used to follow in order to get from my start point to my end point were; Major Shifts, Rich & Meaningful Learning, Develop the Competencies they Need for Expert Adult Performance, Engaged and Skilled Teachers, Enhanced Learning Experience, Active Participation in Knowledge Construction, and finally Technology Integration. I chose these because I felt these themes had the most significant meaning to the overall point of the article and video. I also integrated quotes relating to each major theme which were either found in the article or the video. A major aspect of my sketchnote reflection which I would like to point out is the placement of the theme Engaged & Skilled Teachers. This was placed specifically in the middle of the sketchnote because I felt this was the most important part of the both the video and the article. Without Engaged & Skilled Teachers in the education system, this reconstruction of education is not possible. All the great and innovative ideas and technology can be presented but with an absence of these teachers, the material cannot be presented to students in an effective way. The technology available cannot be organized and structured in an effective manner and the material provided to the students cannot be meaningful, engaging, and structured in a way that prepares students for the workplace of the future. #UWinDig
