Can Google Replace Your Thinking?

I recently posed the following question to a group of students:

"Can Google Replace Your Thinking?"

In today's world, we have students who have never known the world without Google. They don't remember the days of Encyclopedia Britannica or World Book. They can ask Siri if they don't believe the answer dad just gave them. Information is constantly at their fingertips...or is it?

Although today's students have access to a TON of information, they are cursed with having to sort through it to determine if it is accurate. They also are learning that they don't have to think. If you don't know how to solve tonight's math homework, Google it. If you are lucky, you might find the answers. 

So how can teachers make sure their students are thinking?

- Avoid recall type questions that allow students to search for an answer.

- Ask students to defend their answers with textual evidence.

- Modify materials that you find online so that students can't simply copy the answers.

- Don't allow students to have phones out for certain activities that you want them to do without assistance.

- Provide activities like Breakout EDU challenges that aren't as straight forward as a traditional assignment.

- Find ways for students to apply their knowledge!

Why More Than Gifted?

As a gifted education teacher, I have so many roles. I am not just someone who does math and reading enrichment with students. At my school, I serve as more of a coaching role for our teachers. I work with them to create lessons and activities for students. So often the things that I do are "behind the scenes." I may have provided a resource for a teacher to use or helped create a Breakout Edu lesson.

I also wear many other "hats in the building where I work." I teach a Mastery (enrichment) class to students that have varying levels, including gifted.  I am the sponsor for our Student Government Association and also our Junior Beta Club. But then I also serve on our MTSS team which helps determine how we can best support all students and meet their needs. My role has many roles.

And then there are my gifted kids. They are way more than gifted as well. They have special social-emotional needs. They have amazing talents in the arts. Sometimes they need acceleration in a subject and some days they just need a hug to know that they can get through the day. I counsel kids who are perfectionist, have test anxiety, can do math I could never dream of doing and the list goes on. My students may be gifted in reading and or math but they are also so much more.