Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Song-osity: Automatic

What ever happened to waiting your turn, doing it all by hand?
Back before everything became automatic...

Last week, at the math conference, I saw a session in the program book entitled "Discovering the Answer: Combatting the Google Generation."

I teach the Google generation. The generation of Siri, "ok google," youtube, apps, and instant everything.

Right now, we're up to the next step in our Native American unit. Each child has chosen a specific research topic to learn more about. No longer are they taking notes from a specific book, with all the information clearly laid out.

Now, they have to find pieces of information in a larger book. The first few days I heard "but this book isn't about my topic!" - We learned how to use the index and table and contents and be patient while we searched for information.

Sure, we could have gone to the computer lab and answered our research questions quickly. But, I want the google generation to learn that sometimes, a little hard work and investigating is just as rewarding (if not more rewarding!) then simply asking google to tell you the answer.

Friday, we sat around the rug and each child shared what they've learned so far. I was blown away. Students explaining the ceremonies of the Iroquois, how the Pueblo built their houses, how the Cheyenne hunted the buffalo, to how the women of the Nez Perce cared for their children.

I told them, they worked for this information! They kept searching in books, that they now owned this information, and these skills will forever stay with them.

Google may be the easy option, but the effort is so, so worth it.

18 thoughts on the matter:

Jackie Mc Guinness said... {Reply}

Can I take this class? I love doing research even though I do use google more often than not. But I grew up learning how to find information using the library.

Linda Kay said... {Reply}

Excellent job of teaching, Tamar.

Carol Blackburn said... {Reply}

Yes, excellent teaching is correct. Great post Tamar.


Very interesting, interest must be provided to children to address the research!

Kim Cunningham said... {Reply}

You good teacher, you! You are teaching them such good life skills. I love that you let them work through the challenge of working for something.

Tom said... {Reply}

My grandkids would be dead in the water without "Siri." What's Siri? Tom The Backroads Traveller

Buckeroomama said... {Reply}

Kudos to you for showing them an alternative to online searches and (almost) instant gratification.

Sharon said... {Reply}

You are a stupendous teacher! Good for you!


This is so wonderful to read! You are such a fabulous teacher!!

barbara said... {Reply}

My daughters are still too young but I hope that they will find a teacher like you in the future, a teacher that will show them the good in a hardworking job! I know that it will be my job as well and I have to be prepared...

Rebecca said... {Reply}

They are using books? Awesome! Rebecca

Anonymous said... {Reply}

I struggle daily with the high school students who are really the start of those that have never lived their lives without Google. I'm pretty sure it isn't a good thing. They don't get it. I applaud you for making them do it old school!

Clairejustine oxox said... {Reply}

Your doing a great job Tamar :)

Thanks for linking up...

Amy Franks said... {Reply}

very cool! nice work

abrianna said... {Reply}

Yup. I too stress the importance of wiring *legibly*, spelling, grammar, how to alphabetize books, etc... Skills that never go out of style.`

Nicki said... {Reply}

Good job - there will be some instances in life where you can not gain the information you need from Google, etc. and you have planted that seed of 'know how' for these kids to tackle the task 'old school'. Oh the days of Dewey Decimal and card indexes.

Kathy McB said... {Reply}

Since I have a 10 year gap between my Thing #2 and #3 it is amaaaazing the huge difference I see in how their teenage years were/are shaped by technology. And honestly, it ain't all good! The lack of face-to-face personal skills is astonishing. Add to that a real lack of patience! Instant gratification seems to dominate due in large part to technology. Kudos to you for exposing your students to something not so "Automatic". Love where you took this Song! Thanks for sharing at Song-ography! (sorry I'm so late in getting around to comment...it's been one of those weeks where I could have used MORE "automatic" in my life! haha).

ImagesByCW | C. Willison said... {Reply}

What a wonderful lesson you taught your kids. While they may not have appreciated right away, they will one day.