Journal 6 - Student Voices for Change

McClintock Miller, S. (2011). Student voices for change. Learning and Leading, 37(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx

This article discusses how a Van Meter Community School in Iowa found a way to give a voice to all of its students form grades 6-12.  The school district gave each of their students a lab top computer and made technology a priority. The students began to access their own learning communities and continued to pursue their passions and knowledge. As a result, students became more confident, passionate, and accountable for their learning.

Question 1. How can technology improve student’s confidence, passion and accountability?

Well, if you use technology as a tool for learning it can embed confidence and accountability; if you let them follow their interest they can develop their passions.  In order to build confidence we must teach them the skills they need to use the programs and then let them share their knowledge with others. They can share with other students, different schools, or other teachers. Encouraging or requiring them to share their work is holding students held accountable for their work. Furthermore, we all like to study or learn about subjects we are interested and kids are not different.  So, by allowing them to follow their interest they will be more enticed to learn.

Question 2.  How would you help students develop a voice?

I would start of by having students create a Blog.  On the Blog they would answer questions, pose questions and interact with their classroom or school blog community. Then once they were comfortable, I would introduce them to Twitter and teach them how to find others who have the same interests.