WEST VIRGINIA PRINCIPALS’ CONFERENCE
ENGAGE ME OR ENRAGE ME
July 16, 2008
Beaver, WV
Marc Prensky
marc@games2train.com
www.marcprensky.com
01
©
© 2008
2008 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
My biggest
concern as an
educator is…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
My Education Credentials
• Master of Arts in Teaching (Yale)
• Taught High School Math (5 yrs)
• Ran a Street Academy
• Taught Elementary School French
• Taught College Music
• Still Tutor Math
• Have interviewed close to 1000 kids
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Education
Projects
Education Projects
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FL, L.A. Virtual Schools Courses
Chemistry Game (MeCHeM)
Physics Game (Waste of Space)
Periodic Table Cell Phone Game (EleMental)
Financial Literacy Game (MoneyU)
Make Your Own Game (Games a la Carte)
Youth Depression (Mood Management League)
Algebra I Game (The Algebots, in development)
Reading Teacher Game (to come)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
My Latest Book:
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How Computer and Video Games
Are Preparing Your Kids
for Twenty-first Century Success
– and How You Can Help!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
ENGAGE ME or
ENRAGE ME
Educating Today’s
Digital Native Learners
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What you should be
worried about is
© 2008 Marc Prensky
You need to understand both
the speed and magnitude of the
that’s already here…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…and the even bigger
that’s coming
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Are You Having A Good Summer?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Are Your Kids?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How many of you
have sent an email
in the past 24 hours?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Email is for
old people”
– A student
– A headline in The Chronicle of Higher Education
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In 30 years…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…if technology
continues to
double in power
every year…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Our technology will be
1 BILLION TIMES
more powerful than today
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…and today we are
already working at the
ATOMIC level
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Most of us prefer to
walk backward into
the future…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…a posture which
may be
uncomfortable…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…but which at least
allows us to keep on
looking at familiar
things as long as we
can.”
-- Charles Handy
© 2008 Marc Prensky
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
CHANGE
Our Lives
Discontinuity:
Digital Technology
We are here
TIME
© 2008 Marc Prensky
So it’s not just the
Far Off Future
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Life is different
Every Day!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
You have probably changed
the way you do
Banking
Phoning
Travelling
Reading
Buying/Selling
Obtaining Info
© 2008 Marc Prensky
These days
NEW TOOLS COME FAST…
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Sped-up video
Picture Search
IM/texting
Blogs
Wikis
Wikipedia
Podcasting
Phone polling
My Space
Handhelds
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P2P
Complex Games
Web 2.0
Web 3.0
Augmented Reality
Phone cameras
Phone videos
GPS
You Tube
MoSoSo
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…and tool switching is already
close to instantaneous
Yahoo search
Email
Film Cameras
TV
Hard drives
Google search
IM
Digital cameras
You Tube
Flash memory
© 2008 Marc Prensky
CHANGE
Our Students’ Lives
TIME
© 2008 Marc Prensky
[our kids were]
“born to the idea
of rapid change”
-- Nicola Griffith in Slow River (1995)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The change that is
THREATENING
to our teachers…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The change that is
THREATENING
to our teachers…
…is
EMPOWERING
to our students!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
It means the nature of
education
is changing!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
Century+
Font of knowledge
Is the Internet
Pre - 21st Century
Font of knowledge was
the teacher
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
Century+
Our future is
uncertain
Pre - 21st Century
Our future was
predictable
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
Century+
Our context is
global
Pre - 21st Century
Context was local,
national
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
Century+
We invent new tools
to solve our problems
Pre - 21st Century
We solved problems
with the tools we had
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How many of your teachers
see their job as
Helping Students
Invent New Tools?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In 30 years, will today’s
kids be better off
Or knowing
how to
Knowing
solve
problems?
long division?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In 30 years, will today’s
kids be better off
Or
knowing
how
to
Knowing how to
write
code?
write?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“We grow up interacting
– through computers and
through our cell phones –
and that’s how we learn.
– A graduate student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Yet, we have been
educating our kids with
the same generation of
technology
AS THIS:
© 2008 Marc Prensky
18th Century Childbirth
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Medicine has moved
st
into the 21 century;
WHY HASN’T
EDUCATION?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Why do we have to
adapt to the past? Why
shouldn’t we be taught to
in different ways!”
– A College student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What do you want/like?
• Group Work
• Projects
• Case Studies
• Activities
• Discussing
• Interacting
• Being asked about what we think
• The interactive part
• Teachers coming down to our level
• Teachers interacting and using our language
• The more the teacher gets the class involved
in the discussion, the better it is.
• To be actually thinking about stuff
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Our kids are
already
GLOBAL
CITIZENS!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Community
=
THE WORLD
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Timeline
Machines more
powerful than the
human brain
CHANGE
Technology 1 billion
times more powerful
Implanted / wearable
Real-time environments
Handheld computers with
Power of today’s super-c
Mobile phone
wallets
5
10
15
20
25
30
YEARS
© 2008 Marc Prensky
When
will all this
change
END!??
© 2008 Marc Prensky
IT WON’T !!!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We have to
GET USED TO
the Idea of Rapid Change!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…even in our
Schools!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The world our
kids inhabit
is already hugely
different from our own
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“You look at technology
as a tool. We look at
technology as a
foundation – it’s totally
integrated into what we
do.”
– a student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
It’s time to
TURN AROUND!!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And
FACE
the future
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What does this mean for
TEACHERS?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
YOUR TEACHERS
is going to have to
CHANGE
how he/she teaches…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Giving up more and more
CONTROL
© 2008 Marc Prensky
TO
STUDENTS!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Do you know where each
Of your teachers is
along this continuum?
Lecturing
to and
controlling
students
Partnering
with
students
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Changing is
SCARY
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We can make the list of
reasons why we
CAN’T or
SHOULDN’T
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The list of reasons why we
CAN’T or SHOULDN’T
It worked in the past
The past is important
I’m too old
It’s the kids
No Child Left Alive
You can’t make me
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We can
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Feel the fear –
And stick to what
we’re used to
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Or we can
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Feel the fear –
and still
change
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Feel the fear –
and do it
anyway!”
-- Elizabeth Moon in The Speed of Dark (2003)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Is the definition of
COURAGE
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Do we and our teachers
have the
COURAGE
to change?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“I know it’s the
way to go, I’m
just not sure I
can.”
– A teacher
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What if we don’t?
© 2006 Marc Prensky
© 2006 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Of course, our kids can
always get the hi-touch
non-offshorable jobs…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
So let’s talk about…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
century kids…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Who ARE
these people,
anyway!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
not
“little us’s”
anymore!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s younger learners
are NOT the ones our
systems (and teachers)
were designed and trained
to teach!
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
Why?
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5-10,000 hours Video Games
250,000 emails and IMs
10,000 hours on cell phones
20,000 hours TV (incl. You tube)
500,000 commercials
< 5,000 hours book reading
© 2008 Marc Prensky
• 2 billion ring tones per year
• 2 billion songs per month
• 6 billion text messages per day
© 2008 Marc Prensky
DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGY
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Is their
BIRTHRIGHT!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Sky (b. 2005)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“[Young people] are not just
using technology differently
today, but are approaching
their life and their daily
activities differently because
of the technology.”
--Net Day “Speak-up Day” Summary
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The emerging
ONLINE LIFE
of the
Digital Native
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The
Communicating
IM, chat
Sharing
Blogs, MySpace
Buying & Selling
ebay, craigslist
Exchanging
peer-to-peer
Learning
Wikipedia, You Tube,
search
Meeting
Second Life
Gaming
Online, MMORPGs, Cell
Phones
e-Life
Coordinating
Searching
Evaluating
Analyzing
Projects, workgroups,
MMORPGs
Reputation systems–
Epinions, Amazon,
Slashdot
Collecting
Mp3s videos, sensor
data
Creating
Sites, avatars, mods
Evolving
Peripheral, emergent
behaviors
Info, connections,
people
SETI, drug molecules
Reporting
Moblogs, photos
Programming
Open systems, mods
search
Socializing
Learning social
behavior, influence
Growing Up
Exploring,
transgressing
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The
Communicating
IM, chat
Sharing
Blogs, MySpace
Buying & Selling
ebay, craigslist
Exchanging
peer-to-peer
Learning
Wikipedia, You Tube,
search
Meeting
Second Life
Gaming
Online, MMORPGs, Cell
Phones
e-Life
Coordinating
Searching
Evaluating
Analyzing
Projects, workgroups,
MMORPGs
Reputation systems–
Epinions, Amazon,
Slashdot
Collecting
Mp3s videos, sensor
data
Creating
Sites, avatars, mods
Evolving
Peripheral, emergent
behaviors
Info, connections,
people
SETI, drug molecules
Reporting
Moblogs, photos
Programming
Open systems, mods
search
Socializing
Learning social
behavior, influence
Growing Up
Exploring,
transgressing
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“The single largest
differentiator …
is the social
network.”
-- Jack Mckenzie, SVP Frank N. Magid Associates
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“The single largest
differentiator …
is the social
network.”
-- Jack Mckenzie, SVP Frank N. Magid Associates
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Equity?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Yes, some have more
access than others,
BUT THEY ARE ALL
DIGITAL KIDS
© 2008 Marc Prensky
They are great at
sharing,
teaching each other,
and
getting what they need
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And we need to help
make this happen!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Instead of bemoaning
the “digital divide”,
we can be a big part
of the Solution!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
WHY are so many
kids tuning out of
today’s school?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We are
them
© 2008 Marc Prensky
To
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Whenever I go
to school I have
to ‘power down’”
– a high school student
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
“I’m engaged in
only two of my
seven classes.”
– a high school student
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
“I’m bored all day,
because the
teachers just talk
and talk and
talk…”
– a 5th grade girl
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
WHY
Are our kids
SO BORED
In school?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
1.We’re not teaching
them the right stuff
© 2008 Marc Prensky
TRUE!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Because we are too
focused on the
past
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And not on their
FUTURE!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“My passion
is my
future.”
– a student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Machines more
powerful than the
human brain
CHANGE
Technology 1 billion
times more powerful
Implanted / wearable
Real-time environments
Handheld computers with
Power of today’s super-c
Mobile phone
wallets
5
10
15
20
25
30
YEARS
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We have to
integrate
the future
into our
curriculum!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s Kids Need
Nanotechnology
Bioethics
Programming
Genomics
Proteomics
Biomimickry
© 2008 Marc Prensky
For Logical
Thinking:
PROGRAMMING
Integrated into all subjects
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Kids need to
learn HTML
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Kids need to
learn SIMULATION
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Kids need to
Integrate GAMING
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Kids need to
Use MULTIPLE
LANGUAGE TEXTING
© 2008 Marc Prensky
30 years from now,
our students will
laugh (or cry)
at the education we
gave them in 2008
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The idea that we can
give kids a set of
meaningful information
that will last
is over
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We need to teach
skills
that will be useful
throughout life
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We have to teach
Our kids
Twenty-first Century
Skills!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
st
21
Century
Skills
© 2008 Marc Prensky
21st Century Skills
1. Knowing the right thing to do
• Behaving Ethically
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving
• Judgment
© 2008 Marc Prensky
21st Century Skills
2. Getting it done
• Goal Setting
• Planning
• Self-Direction
• Self-Evaluation
© 2008 Marc Prensky
21st Century Skills
3. Doing it with others
•
Communicating/Interacting:
With individuals & groups
(especially using technol.)
• Communicating/Interacting:
With Machines (= Programming)
•
Communicating/Interacting:
With a World Audience
© 2008 Marc Prensky
21st Century Skills
4. Doing it creatively
• Creative thinking
• Designing
• Playing
• Finding your voice
© 2008 Marc Prensky
21st Century Skills
5. Constantly doing it better
• Being proactive
• Prudent risk-taking
• Thinking long-term
• Continually improving
through learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
For us to know what makes
people effective,
and NOT teach it
to our kids
IS CRIMINAL!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How do I do
all that in
this era of
Standards
and
Assessments
?????
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We have to
find a way!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
One good approach:
“Curriculum
Deletion”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Right now we are full
You can’t add something
about the future unless you
delete something from the
past
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Deletion Candidates?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
WHY ELSE
are our kids
SO BORED
in school?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
2. We’re not teaching
them the right way
© 2008 Marc Prensky
ALSO TRUE!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Metaphor
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Kids used to grow
Up in the dark
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
©©2008
2008Marc
MarcPrensky
Prensky
We were
the people
Who Showed Students
The Light
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s kids
Grow up in the light
© 2008 Marc Prensky
SCHOOL
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We want to be
the people
who
Show Students
the Light
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The danger is that…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
With the very best
of intentions,
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We pull students
out of the light
into darkness!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
CAN WE
TURN ON
THE LIGHTS
???
© 2008 Marc Prensky
For the first time,
© 2008 Marc Prensky
our schools
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Have some
serious competition
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The kind of learning
we want…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…where students
learn
in new ways…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…where they’re
highly motivated
to learn,
both on their own
and with their peers…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…is already
happening.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Outside of school…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…without us!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s Education is
Bifurcating Quickly
“School”
“After School”
(Credentials)
(21st century learning)
Legacy Stuff
Stuff that is Irrelevant
Future Learning
Stuff they Know they Need
PUSHED ON THEM
= Boring
PULLED BY THEM
= Exciting
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“We decided to
bypass the
schools.”
– Deborah Schwartz, MOMA
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
“Avoid the
schools!”
– Dr. James Rosser
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
“The greatest opportunity
for change is currently
found in after-school
programs and informal
learning communities.”
– MacArthur White Paper
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
CAN SCHOOL
COMPETE?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
CAN WE
TURN ON
THE LIGHTS
???
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Or is it only
THE DARK SIDE
keeping us alive?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The DARK SIDE of school
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“After School,”
the kids have
already found
a better way to learn
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“A New Paradigm”
For Learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Old
Paradigm
New
Paradigm
Kids
being
taught
Kids
teaching
themselves
BOREDOM
ENGAGEMENT
(with guidance)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
It’s not REALLY New
“Question-led learning”
“Problem-based learning”
“Case-based learning”
“Student-centered learning”
“Progressive education”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
But it’s new
For a lot of our teachers
Lecturing
to and
controlling
students
Partnering
with
students
as they
learn on
their own
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We know this is the
right way to go,
because…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
1. The kids tell us
© 2008 Marc Prensky
2. The successful
schools tell us
© 2008 Marc Prensky
3. The successful
teachers tell us
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What’s the role of
TECHNOLOGY?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Some think
technology
is the answer
to getting engagement
© 2008 Marc Prensky
But just because it’s
TECHNOLOGY
Doesn’t make something
ENGAGING
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“A lot of teachers
think they make a
PowerPoint and
they’re so
awesome!”
-- a (female) high school junior
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“…But it’s just like
writing on the
blackboard.”
-- a (female) high school junior
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Technology’s
ONLY role
IS TO SUPPORT
THE NEW PARADIGM
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Technology
DOES NOT and CANNOT
support
the way we
currently teach
IN FACT,
Until teachers move from the old
“telling” paradigm
to the new
“kids teaching themselves
with our guidance”
paradigm…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Technology
actually HINDERS
engagement
and learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Seeing No Progress, Some Schools Drop Laptops
May 4, 2007
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — The students at Liverpool High have used their school-issued laptops to
exchange answers on tests, download pornography and hack into local businesses. When the
school tightened its network security, a 10th grader not only found a way around it but also
posted step-by-step instructions on the Web for others to follow (which they did). …
So the Liverpool Central School District, just outside Syracuse, has decided to phase out
laptops starting this fall, joining a handful of other schools around the country that adopted
one-to-one computing programs and are now abandoning them as educationally empty — and
worse.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
To teach today’s students
successfully, we must
SHARE THE WORK
Let Students
do what they
do well
• Use the technology
• Find content
• Create
Let Teachers
do what they
do well
• Evaluate the work
• Provide context
• Find quality
© 2008 Marc Prensky
So we are going to have to
the way we teach our kids…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
BEFORE
technology
can help us
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the old “telling” paradigm,
technology gets in the way
But in the new paradigm
technology sets the kids
(and us) free!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Yes, we need to
be using the latest tools
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sped-up video
Picture Search
IM/texting
Blogs
Wikis
Wikipedia
Podcasting
Phone polling
My Space
Handhelds
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
P2P
Complex Games
Web 2.0
Web 3.0
Augmented Reality
Phone cameras
Phone videos
GPS
You Tube
Games & Simulations
© 2008 Marc Prensky
But only
In the right way
i.e. in support of the
New Paradigm
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Old
Paradigm
New
Paradigm
Kids
being
taught
Kids
teaching
themselves
BOREDOM
ENGAGEMENT
(with guidance)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Step 1:
Change the Paradigm
of how we teach
Step 2:
Let kids use the technology
to take off!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Does this
mean
everything I
have done
for the past x
years
Is
meaningless?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
No,
But the old ways are
useless for going forward!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“There’s so much
separation between
how students think
and how teachers
think”
-- a (female) high school junior
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Digital
Immigrants
teach by
Digital
Natives
learn from
• Delivering content
• Being Engaged
• Presenting & Telling
• Doing & Gameplay
• Linear Stories
• Random Access &
Exploring Options
• One Thing at a Time
• Multi-tasking
• One size fits all
• Lots of Choices
• Face-to-face
• Going Online
• Going relatively slowly
• Going really quickly
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We can’t just stand up
there any more
and tell!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The Five Stages
of
Teachers
and
The New Paradigm
© 2008 Marc Prensky
1. Hiding
© 2008 Marc Prensky
2. Panic
© 2008 Marc Prensky
3. Acceptance
© 2008 Marc Prensky
4. Comfort
© 2008 Marc Prensky
5. Power
© 2008 Marc Prensky
HOW
should teachers
use technology
in the new paradigm?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The
Prensky
Apostacy
© 2008 Marc Prensky
It’s important that teachers
DON’T WASTE THEIR TIME
Learning to Create With New Tools,
© 2008 Marc Prensky
because…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The students can do that!
(and they want to)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Don’t try to keep
up with the
technology
-- you can’t”
– A 14 year old girl
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“You’ll only look
stupid.”
– A 14 year old girl
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How our kids see teachers
When they use technology
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How We Generally Do Use New Tools
Problem
Wikipedia
IM
Phone-based
cameras
Solution
BAN IT
•
Contains some incorrect
information
Used as only source
•
•
Distraction in class
Used to get test answers
BAN IT
•
Used inappropriately
BAN IT
•
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How We Should Use New Tools
Assign
Wikipedia
Design
a Wikipedia
Entry for…
Evaluate
•
•
•
•
Communication
Journalism
Use of MM
Creativity
•
•
Teach
Search vs. Research
Fair Use vs. Plagiarism
© 2006 Marc Prensky
How Teachers Should Use New Tools
Assign
Wikipedia
IM
Phone-based
cameras
Design
a Wikipedia
Entry for…
Design a
Class using
only IM
Take and
Photoshop
To best
Illustrate…
Evaluate
Teach
•
•
•
•
Communication
Journalism
Use of MM
Creativity
•
•
Search vs. Research
Fair Use vs. Plagiarism
•
•
•
•
Usefulness
Breadth
Depth
Originality
•
Informal vs. Formal
Language
•
•
Pictures vs. Words
Appropriate vs. Inappropriate
Truth vs.
Manipulation
•
•
•
•
Communication
Originality
Artistry
Technique
•
© 2008 Marc Prensky
When it comes to
technology…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
WE HUGELY
UNDERESTIMATE
WHAT OUR
STUDENTS
CAN DO!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
http://mabryonline.org/archives/mtv
© 2008 Marc Prensky
WHY
do we
underestimate?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Because we
actually
DISRESPECT
the kids!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Although few of us
are even aware of it
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Most of us
DISRESPECT
our students
in a number of
important ways
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Especially
vis-à-vis
their use of
technology
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We say (or think)
things like
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“My students
have the
attention span
of a gnat.”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Today’s kids
can’t
concentrate.”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Your games are a
waste of your time
money and brain
cells.”
– A parent
© 2008 Marc Prensky
These things are just
NOT TRUE!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Thinking and talking
disrespectfully
really hurts
our students…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
…who want
and deserve
our respect.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
As a result
of our disrespect,
what happens?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Our students
DISRESPECT
their educators
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Since they know
technology
is the new literacy
© 2008 Marc Prensky
They see most
of their teachers
as
ILLITERATE
© 2008 Marc Prensky
..and they
don’t bother
listening!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
©© 2005
2005Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
Our goal needs to be
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How Do We Get
RESPECT
For each other?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
1.We must accept that
We Are All Learners
We Are All Teachers
© 2008 Marc Prensky
2. We must
Involve Our Students
in everything we do
3. We must
Give our students ONLY
work worth respecting!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“NO
LECTURES!”
– Students everywhere
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“NO
WORKSHEETS!”
– Students everywhere
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“It was a worksheet
on a computer –
that’s not really
technology to us.”
– A student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
4. We must
respect what the
kids find valuable…
And especially
respect their games!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s complex
games produce
LEARNING
WITH
ENGAGEMENT
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And we should
STUDY THEM
and
Extract the
Engaging Elements
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Following their
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
in all our
Teaching
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s Games:
Complexity Matters
“Mini”
“Complex”
5 min- 2 hours
TRIVIAL
8-100 hours
NOT TRIVIAL
Or, at best,
One-Noted
Complex Games take
the same amount of
time as a course (30100 hours)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
7 Rules of Game Engagement
(from complex games)
Have “Be a Hero” Goals
Add Frequent Decision Making
Don’t Suck The Fun Out
Provide a Strong Emotional Connection
Balance Cooperation &Competition
Personalize
Iterate
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Have “Be a Hero” Goals
School
Goals
Learn the
“material”
Get Good Grade
/Pass test
Understand
Game
Goals
Be a Hero
Help Your
Friends
Build/Create
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Decisions Are How We Learn
Decision
Reflection
LEARNING
LOOP
Action
Feedback
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Add Frequent Decision Making
School
Decisions
Game
Decisions
Almost never
Every ½ sec
Mostly on tests
No immediate
feedback
Help you
reach goals
Immediate
Feedback
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Math - Algebra
“DimensionM”
www.tabuladigita.com/
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Science – Space Physics
“Waste of Space”
www.hagames.com/
© 2008 Marc Prensky
English - Grammar
“The Grammar of Doom”
www.english-online.org.uk/games/grofdoom/advisory.htm
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Social Studies
“Darfur is Dying”
www.darfurisdying.com/
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Social Studies
“Food Force”
www.food-force.com/
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Social Studies
“PeaceMaker”
www.peacemakergame.com/
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Business: Basic Concepts
“Disney’s Hot Shot Business”
disney.go.com/hotshot/index.html
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Microeconomics
ECON 201
web.uncg.edu/dcl/econ201/trailer.html
© 2008 Marc Prensky
MORE
ENGAGEMENT KEYS
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s students also
get Engaged through
1. Creating things they want to make
2. Voicing their opinions
3. Interacting with and affecting the
world
© 2008 Marc Prensky
http://mabryonline.org/archives/mtv
Today’s kids understand
the power of
technology to
help them learn…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Because they
can make it do
what they need
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What’s different about
the new technology is
that it is
programmable.
– Alan Kay
© 2008 Marc Prensky
PROGRAMMING
Is making a machine
do what YOU want
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The kids know
they are the ones
who can
program
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The kids know
Programming is the
Key Tool and Literacy
of the
21st Century
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What needs programming?
•Our communication
• The Web
• Cell phones
• Answering systems
• Interactive video
• Our jobs
• Problem solving
• Personal computers
• Business systems
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What needs programming?
• Our schools
• Administration
• Sharing
• Instruction
• Our government
•
•
•
•
Legislation
Security
Enforcement
Communication
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What needs programming?
• Our homes
•
•
•
•
•
Thermostat
Alarm
Appliances
Stereo
DVD / Home theater
• Our cars
• Cabin
• Engine
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What needs programming?
• Our Tools
•
•
•
•
•
•
Blogs
Wikis
RSS
My Space
Games
Multimedia
• Our recreation
• iPod / Tivo / Interactive TV
• Games
• Vehicles
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What needs programming?
• Our Curriculum
• Math – Problem solving
• Science – Testing hypotheses
• Languages – Dictionaries / guides
• Social Studies – Simulations
• English – Research, analysis
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What
WE
Don’t yet know
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Is how to help
our kids learn to
PROGRAM
In more and more
sophisticated ways
© 2008 Marc Prensky
What if we don’t?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
(now hiring)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
There is really
only
ONE WAY
to turn on the
lights for our
kids
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Make
ENGAGEMENT
OUR #1 GOAL
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We have to
Involve Our Students
in everything we do
“for” them
© 2008 Marc Prensky
3D PRINTER
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
TO IMPROVE
our students’
Education…
© 2006 Marc Prensky
We have to
Involve Our Students
in everything we do
“for” them
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Get our students
seriously involved
in redesigning
their own education
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Top Down
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“You
WILL
Learn!”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Top Down
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the 21st century
Learning can’t be dropped on
kids
They have to
WANT
To learn
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the 21st century
We can no longer just TELL
students what is right/best
We also have to
ASK!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the 21st century
We can no longer just
hand students “content”
They have to find it
WORTHWHILE!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the 21st century
We can no longer just
hand students “content”
They have to help
design it!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Bottoms Up!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Tell me
where you
want me to go,
and let me
get there
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Ask me
what I
need
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And ask
what I can
contribute
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Ask
my
opinion!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Top Down
BALANCE
Bottoms Up
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The issue is NOT that
educators don’t know
about engagement
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
The issue is that
Engagement is changing
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
Engagement is
NO LONGER
Something we can do
TO
students
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today, we have to
with
In order to engage them in learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Engaging With Students
Talk with them
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Engaging With Students
Hold School/Class Meetings
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Engaging With Students
Ask them about
technologies
that relate
to what they are learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Why don’t we
do better?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Because we
Don’t ask!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Are we afraid
To ask?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Am I
boring
you?”
©
© 2008
2003 Marc
Marc Prensky
Prensky
We can’t be
afraid
to ask our
students!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Take their
Temperature”
–every day!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s Students expect MORE
than just “relevance”
They expect
real work that truly
affects the world
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“We want… to
change the
world.”
– A 7th grader
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Authentic”
=
REAL
© 2008 Marc Prensky
A Big Missed
Opportunity For
Engagement?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Almost EVERY student already
has a powerful computer…
… in their pocket!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We should be
USING them!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Cell Phones Are
•
•
•
•
•
Powerful Computers
Inexpensive
Always in their pocket
Optimized for Communication
Full of Useful Add-ons
e.g. Cameras, GPS, internet
• Easy to download to
• Attachable to External input/output
Missing? Imagination!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Students Could Be Using Their Cell Phones
for Learning:
and Doing:
Skills.
Languages.
Poetry.
Literature.
Public Speaking.
Writing.
Storytelling.
History.
Surveys.
Polls.
Match-ups.
Testing.
Communication.
Blogging.
…and even
Assessment!
©©2003
2008Marc
MarcPrensky
Prensky
Question
© 2008 Marc Prens
Evaluate Kids
with their tools!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Open Phone”
Tests!!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“You can ask
harder
questions”
– A Teacher
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Most of our tests ARE
open phone tests – you
guys just don’t know
it!”
– A Student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
How could we integrate
cell phones
into our teaching?
© 2008 Marc Prensky
The ONLY WAY
we will get
where we want to
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Is to let the
students
help
© 2008 Marc Prensky
By listening to
them!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“Talk to us – we
love to give
advice.”
-- Students all over
© 2008 Marc Prensky
“[The Millennials] call the
shots. Anyone who bores
them will be getting
blocked, zapped and
tuned out for years to
come.”
– Business Week, July 12, 2006
“We’re not
stupid.”
-- Students all over
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Summary: Today’s kids love
Doing
Sharing their ideas and opinions
Being involved with the world
Being asked
Having choices
Creating Things that are important to them
Having Goals they want to reach
Making important decisions
Thinking about the future
Using technology themselves
© 2008 Marc Prensky
To get my __th grade class
to learn ___________
In the old paradigm PAST, I would do this:
_____________________________________________
In the new paradigm FUTURE, I will do
this:
_____________________________________________
and this and this…
(see next)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Today’s kids love
Doing, so I will:
Sharing their ideas and opinions, so I will:
Being involved with the world, so I will:
Being Asked, so I will:
Having Choices, so I will:
Creating Things that are important to them, so I will:
Having Goals they want to reach, so I will:
Making important decisions, so I will
Thinking about the future, so I will:
Using technology themselves, so I will:
© 2008 Marc Prensky
our
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Today’s Young Learners
love to
Share…
© 2006 Marc Prensky
…but today’s adults
don’t!
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Digital Immigrants
“Knowledge is Power”
Keep Good Information to Yourself
Digital Natives
“Sharing is Power”
Be the first to post it
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Many teachers are doing
Great Things!
© 2006 Marc Prensky
but…
© 2006 Marc Prensky
So Much
GOES TO WASTE
from being used by only
One Person,
In One School
© 2006 Marc Prensky
If we could just
capture, access and re-use
work already done,
we would be
HALFWAY THERE
© 2006 Marc Prensky
How?
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Use the
most powerful
technology tool
in the world
© 2006 Marc Prensky
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Put it on
the Web !!!
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Get your teachers to put
their good stuff on
You Tube
so others can find it !!!
© 2006 Marc Prensky
If your teachers don’t know how
to create a You Tube video
and upload it to the Web
Make sure they learn
NOW!
(let the kids teach them)
© 2006 Marc Prensky
If You Tube is blocked
In your school today,
UNBLOCK IT
TOMORROW!
© 2006 Marc Prensky
Texting in Class
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
1.
Make the passing of
standardized exams a
group/team process
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
2.
Acknowledge publically that
henceforth students will have a
meaningful voice in setting all
school policy.
Hold frequent assemblies of all concerned to hear points
of view and make policy.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
3.
Set up only three rules for
students in classrooms:
1. Always behave ethically
and look for and try to do what is right
2. Do your best to learn at all times
3. Don’t disturb anyone else in the process
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
4.
Set up opportunities for
students to tell / show
teachers how they’d
prefer to be taught
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
5.
Make it your business to
eliminate boredom
from your school
Poll students as to which of their teachers/ classes
are engaging and boring and why. Investigate and
take action.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
6.
Talk to 2-4 kids per day for at least
a half hour about their learning.
(If you feel you can’t spare 1-2 hrs every day to work
one-on-one with kids, re-think your priorities.)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
7.
Work with both students and
teachers to implement the
new “kids learning on their
own with guidance”
paradigm.
Find the best examples and have the teachers
share with their colleagues.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
8.
With the new paradigm,
push for to 1 to 1
computing ASAP
(Remember, technology does not work well in
the old, “lecture” teaching paradigm.)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
9.
Orient your school
towards the future.
Offer classes in programming,
game design, long distance
collaboration
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
10.
Have your teachers teach
and practice the Seven
Habits of Highly
Effective People in all
instruction
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
11.
Make all in-service
training include
students
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
12.
Keep the computer lab
open till midnight and
on weekends.
(especially in places where
technology access is an issue)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
13.
Introduce Dance, Dance
Revolution and other
exergames into your
Physical Education
classes.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
14 Things All Principals
Can Do Right Now
14.
Have students share your
school’s most effective
ideas/results with the
world via You Tube.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Remember…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Your job…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And the role of
technology…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Is to empower
THE KIDS
to learn
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Don’t
© 2008 Marc Prensky
In the name of
“Standards”
or anything else
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Deny your kids their
birthright and future!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
They’re our kids
© 2008 Marc Prensky
We owe them
the best!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
And I’m sure
we can all find
THE COURAGE
© 2008 Marc Prensky
to do
what’s right for them
© 2008 Marc Prensky
so…
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Get the slides!
email:
marc@games2train.com
web sites:
www.marcprensky.com
www.games2train.com
© 2008 Marc Prensky
Appendix
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
1.
Find two “technology
buddies” who know
more than you:
1 teacher, 1 student
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
2.
Hold a Class Meeting
to talk with students
about how they want
to be taught
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
3.
Ask students for
technologies
that could relate
to what you are teaching
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
4.
Appoint a different
student as your teaching
assistant for
each week of the year
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
5.
“Teach” one or more lessons
with NO lecturing
and NO worksheets
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
6.
Make it your personal goal
to eliminate boredom
from your classroom
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
7.
Take your classes’
“temperature”
(e.g. Ask “Am I boring you?)
several times a class
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
8.
Get something
unblocked
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
9.
Assign homework
where the kids have
the option to work with
their favorite technologies
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
10.
Have your students create
• an entry in the Wikipedia
• a class blog
• a class Facebook
(or equivalent)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
11.
Decide what topics
You WON’T cover
in class, and replace some
with future stuff
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
12.
Hold a teacher meeting
in a virtual world,
e.g.
Second Life
TuneTown
World of Warcraft
Whyville
Club Penguin
(and eventually meet students)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
13.
Do a class project around
the future
(e.g. using sci-fi)
that the students suggest
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
14.
Have your students
install and populate
an RSS aggregator
in your classroom
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
15.
Ask
“Who plays a game
that has to do with
what we are studying?”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
16.
Figure out
(with your students)
a way to integrate that
game into your teaching
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
17.
Integrate the seven
habits of highly
effective people into
your instruction
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
18.
Give a meaningful
Open-phone
test
© 2008 Marc Prensky
19 Things for TEACHERS To Try
In The Next 30 Days
19.
Have your students help
share your most
effective ideas/results
with the world via
You Tube.
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
1.
Acknowledge publically
that henceforth
students will have a
meaningful voice in
setting all school policy
in your district
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
2.
Make it your job to
eliminate boredom from
your district
(i.e. make 100 percent
engagement the goal)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
3.
Make the passing of
standard exams a
group/team process
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
4.
Talk to 2-4 kids per day
for at least a half hour
about their learning
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
5.
Figure out how to compete
with
“after school”
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
6.
Set up district-wide
opportunities for students to
tell / show educators what
they can do and how they’d
prefer to be taught
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
7.
Work with principals and
teachers to implement the
new “kids learning on their
own with guidance”
paradigm in all teaching
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
8.
That done, get
One-to-One
computers
for all students
ASAP
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
9.
Orient your district
towards the future
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
10.
Un-ban Everything
Including cell phones
and You Tube
(figure out how to get
responsible use)
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
11.
Teach the 21st century
skill set
in your district
© 2008 Marc Prensky
12 Things All Superintendents
Can Do Right Now
12.
Be the advocate
of the students,
not the scores!
© 2008 Marc Prensky
© 2008 Marc Prensky