So, as you know, I have a class set of laptops. Last semester my students used them every day in Success 1.0 in order to access my10yearplan.com, which helped them organize their "life" ten years from now. It was rare for the students to collaborate on specific documents and assignments because of the individualized nature of the class. That's not to say they didn't help each other, but they weren't building other people's careers or budgets, rather, they were focusing on applying the concepts taught in class to their own.
This semester, I'm teaching Health. Due to the immense amount of information students need to absorb and apply to their own lives and environments, I'm planning for them to do a LOT more collaboration. I got the idea to do a google doc from a coworker, and decided that it would be perfect for my Health class. So, over the winter break, I began constructing the Unit 1 Google Doc.
I first came up with all of the Assisted assignments (this is like class work-at our school we call grades either assisted or unassisted, unassisted being quizzes, tests, etc.). I went into the google doc and wrote instructions, made tables, examples, put in links for students who need a little extra help, and thought it was great.
Then, I decided that it needed a "table of contents" so to speak. This table of contents had instructions for where to put the students' contributions, unit calendar (which has already been adjusted twice due to inclement weather), and a table of hyperlinks. This table made me feel like I was such an awesome teacher. Inside the google doc were links to every PowerPoint presentation, quizlet set, unit review, and all documents needed for completion of our PBL for Unit 1. This document is probably the pride of my teaching career at the moment.
I was so excited to launch this unit with my kiddos. After a day of setting up the class, ice breakers, procedural instructions, and gathering gmail addresses, I got to start today. I had shared the doc with my students before they walked in. As soon as I got attendance taken, I had the students log in. That was where unit 1 stopped for half of the class period. Most of the students had no problem logging into gmail. Finding their Google Drive was another story. I showed them where their Drive was and how to get there. Then came the random problems: "I can't find the doc you sent in my e-mail!" "Mine wants me to download Google chrome!" Now, there were a handful of students who knew exactly what do to even before I started explaining the concept of google docs. Only a handful though, so I explained that I hadn't e-mailed them, but rather shared a doc that should pop up in the "Shared with me" folder and that no, they did not need to download Chrome. That handful of students I mentioned earlier? They spent the next 30 minutes helping me help the others. Talk about deflating my expectations. Teacher of the Year right here.
Once that was all over with, I got to launch into my awesome PowerPoint for chapter 1, then I explained the first assignment they would do on the google doc. After I explained, I excitedly told the students that if they needed to refer to the PowerPoint, they could click the link for it on the first page of the google doc and I set them to work.
That's when the next wave of questions began: "Mrs. Moore? I am getting an error message when I try to open the PPT!" "How do we make our PowerPoint?" "Wait. We are doing a PPT?"
I took a deep breath. "OK, guys," I say, "you aren't making a PowerPoint; nor do you need to use any other software or programs besides the google doc. As you add your information, the doc will grow." And after some looking into the error message, I realized that I had shared the google doc meant for collaboration, but I hadn't shared the folder that holds all of the other documents I had linked in it. Apparently there was user error on both sides of this teacher-student relationship today.
I realized today that what people say about this generation is true--while they are very good with social media overall, most don't have the skills to use technology in an educational way. Of course I have a few exceptions to this rule. I have some students who could build the computers we are working on and some who could write the programs we are using. But, by and large, this generation needs some help here. I also realized today that I am a part of the problem as I also made some errors in my use of the technology.
The Moral of the Story: I was humbled today at how vulnerable my students showed themselves to be as they revealed how much help they would need to learn how to use the technology I thought they would have the skill and prior knowledge to use. I was further humbled by how understanding and accepting they were of my mistake due to my only partial competence with it myself. There I was, expecting to teach them through this technology, and, in the end, my students taught me a little about patience simply by adjusting to the situation without expressing frustration towards me. Days like today remind me that sometimes the teacher is really the student.
While I could have spent the rest of my day dwelling on the lack of understanding and skill with educational technology this generation possesses, I chose to focus on the empathy and compassion they showed me which characterizes their entire generation. These aspects of their personalities are the ones that will be remembered long after they are gone and the next generation comes through. I can teach them how to use google docs and any other technology that comes along for use in education. What I can't teach my students is how to show others grace and mercy when those others offend them in some way (even as small as a teaching faux pas with google doc sharing).
So the next time you think about criticizing the iY generation for their faults, think about all of the invaluable strengths they possess. Instead, seek to teach them how to improve their limitations by using their talents. I know I will.
