The video "From Knowledgeable to Knowledge-Able" by Michael Wesch is taken from a talk from TEDxKC. In the talk, Wesch advocates teaching students to use technology to help solve the big problems facing the world, rather than continuing to ask for and answer the mundane essential facts and knowledge. Some ways he sees technology helping in this process is through connecting, collaborating, sharing and even creating new knowledge. In the video, Wesch describes a world where students are taught to become able to find knowledge (knowledge-able) rather than simply taught to memorize a list of concrete facts (knowledge).
I agree with Wesch that teaching students to learn how to look for answers rather than teaching them the answers is important. I also agree that technology offers many tools in order to do this. I think Wesch is right that encouraging students to ask their own questions is part of the solution to previous forms education where students were taught to simply learn what needs to be learned for a test. In my own classroom I think that encouraging independent research, critical thinking and an organized, rational approach to problem solving are key in helping educate students to be thinkers rather than reciters of knowledge. I think giving students the opportunity to do research on topics they are passionate about and encouraging them to ask their own questions about what they are interested in are two avenues for encouraging students to be knowledge-able. Further, I think the internet is a vast resource to see what others with similar interests or questions are asking or what their input is, which in many cases is very valuable and even novel. Overall, technology isn't the solution, but a flexible, multidimensional tool to assist students in solving today's problems.
I agree with Wesch that teaching students to learn how to look for answers rather than teaching them the answers is important. I also agree that technology offers many tools in order to do this. I think Wesch is right that encouraging students to ask their own questions is part of the solution to previous forms education where students were taught to simply learn what needs to be learned for a test. In my own classroom I think that encouraging independent research, critical thinking and an organized, rational approach to problem solving are key in helping educate students to be thinkers rather than reciters of knowledge. I think giving students the opportunity to do research on topics they are passionate about and encouraging them to ask their own questions about what they are interested in are two avenues for encouraging students to be knowledge-able. Further, I think the internet is a vast resource to see what others with similar interests or questions are asking or what their input is, which in many cases is very valuable and even novel. Overall, technology isn't the solution, but a flexible, multidimensional tool to assist students in solving today's problems.