Chapter 3- "Engage Me or Enrage Me"

This article does a great job of explaining why kids are tuning teachers out in class.  When kids go home they have Internet, video games, television, and other forms of media.  They are very engaged in those activities and very interested in them.  It's no surprise that when kids come into the classroom they are shutting down.  Even some of the most engaging teachers cannot reach these kids if they are just sticking to the old curriculum.  The British government has actually given a large sum of money for the development of a digital curriculum.  I thought it was interesting when the article noted that kids don't have short attention spans when it comes to video games, music, television, or movies.  As educators, we need to do these kids better and teach them in a meaningful way.  I love the challenge this article concluded with: "I'm the tuned-out kid in the back row with the headphones. Are you going to engage me today or enrage me? The choice is yours."

I loved reading this article, and I think many other teachers (no offense, but especially some of the older teachers) would benefit greatly from this article.  When kids are playing these video games, they are actually displaying some great problem solving strategies.  We need to recognize their ability and relate those same ideas to what is going on in the classroom.  Incorporating technology is not a difficult task.  It might take more planning time and might even result in spending more time grading something, but would that be time well spent if it meant a more meaningful and learning experience for the students.  Wouldn't it be worth it to have a room full  of engaged students instead of having some of the enraged students?