Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age By Mitchel Resnick

The article, “Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age,” by Mitchel Resnick is mostly about the idea of a learning revolution in education as a result of all the new digital technologies coming about. It seems obvious that there is a definite connection between education and computers or technology. The problem however, is the way in which we think about learning. The article talks about how learning is “an active process in which people construct new understandings of the world around them through active exploration, experimentation, discussion, and reflection” (33). This was then followed by what I thought one of the most interesting quotes in this article, “people don’t get ideas; they make them.” We use computers mostly for inputting and searching for information; word, e-mail, Google searches, etc. It is wonderful how much information computers can bring us but as far as education is concerned, computers can be used for so much more. Computers can be used to design and create things and this is where the greatest new learning opportunities arise. We should look at computers as the material needed to make things. “The computer is the most extraordinary construction material ever invented, enabling people to create anything…” (33). As more and more people gain access, computer fluency starts to become the new issue. Computer Clubhouses have opened to provide more young people an opportunity to not only access and learn basic applications, but also the opportunity to become digitally fluent. The article then goes beyond and talks about rethinking how people learn, what they learn and when and where they learn. Resnick presents an idea that we should allow students to be more active and independent learners, with the teacher being the consultant. He talks about how we should not cut the school day into hour blocks but instead to let children work in depth and for extended amounts of time on projects. We should focus on projects and lessons that make connections to many subjects in school. He suggests that we need to provide students with the newest cutting edge skills needed to make it in this digital society. And in this digital age, “learning can and must become a daylong and lifelong experience” (36). Finally, Resnick talks about how we should rethink the technologies we provide to young children because they are “ready and eager to do more with computers and technology” (35).

I found this article to be very interesting and he made a lot of interesting points. For the most part, I can really relate to how he feels about education and technology but there are a few aspects I disagree with. First off, I think that learning in general is a process that requires an active thinker…a process that requires interaction and effort. I think that the reason a lot of teachers are so hesitant to make a curriculum technology heavy is because we tend to think of computers as simply a way of getting and inputting information, which is not a very active or thought provoking process in itself. But, when we really look at what exactly computers and technology are capable of; we can see just how beneficial they are. I think we should allow students to be current with technology so that they can be proficient in this digital age but there is a lot to say for tactile, one-on-one interaction as well. I think when we start talking about students being completely responsible for their education and sticking them in front of a computer to do all their learning isn’t the best of ideas. Students can communicate via computers and new technology such as texting and what not but so much of what students then lack is interacting face-to-face with others. Seeing how they react, learning to respond, and listen, looking at gestures and body language. The relationships people have in their lives are very important and I don’t believe you can build meaningful and deep relationships through a computer screen. I feel like hands on experience with materials and interaction with classmates and peers is very important. I had never heard of these clubhouses that the article talked about and I thought the idea of them was so cool, and such a great opportunity for young people. I think we should let students be more active and independent learners because when you expect more, they generally rise to the occasion but, we should still be ready and available for the students who aren’t fully capable of this. Making lessons and projects involve many different subjects and disciplines is a great idea, because I think it makes the information more meaningful. Finally, I definitely believe that learning is and should be something that exists both inside and outside the classroom…a livelong activity.