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Ditching the Textbook and Entering the 21st Century
Ditching the Textbook and Entering the 21st Century
Teacher: “Okay class, go ahead and take out your textbooks and turn to page 78. We will read through the introduction together, then, by yourself, you will read the rest of the chapter. When you are finished, answer the questions on page 94, in complete sentences.”
Student: “Awwww man, this is so stupid and boring. Do we have to?”
Teacher: “Yes we do! This chapter has some exciting new vocabulary that we need to cover!”
Student: “Ugh. I’m so bored.”
The scene above could come from any classroom across the country (maybe even YOUR classroom). After all, most of us grew up in a school environment like the one above, and in our own personal classes; textbooks ARE the curriculum. Teachers use textbooks as the primary source of information, while occasionally using supplemental resources for worksheets or projects. But is this the best way to teach students today? Is teaching the same way we grew up, good enough for our new generation of learners (despite the fact that they have a handheld device with a plethora or resources they can access in an instant)?
I am a firm believer that textbooks should stay in the past and we should use the most current and up to date resources that are available today. Why are we spending so much money on information that is limited to 300ish pages? I am a part of a few Facebook groups of teachers in my content area and it drives me crazy when I see posts about “I have all this extra money to get whatever I need- What textbooks should I get?” Are you crazy?! You are going to limit yourself to a textbook when you could use the money to buy devices that can literally give you any piece of information you need, connect you with anyone in the world, and are updated in real time?!
Today, we have so many more ways to have students experience and learn. With all this out there, we are able to give our students more engaging and applicable lessons. Not just have them sit and get the information from a textbook. In the book, Ditch That Textbook, Matt Miller explains,
“I believe one of our most important roles might not be answering questions, but helping students discover the right questions and showing them where and how to find the answers themselves” (Miller, 2015, pg. 21).
Ditch That Textbook focuses on the acronym DITCH as a way for teachers to decide what and how to teach and by focusing daily lessons on that model, we can effectively transform our classrooms.
Different
Different
Innovative
Innovative
Tech-Laden
Tech-Laden
Creative
Creative
Hands-On
Hands-On
Using this model we can create engaging and effective classrooms for the 21st century. Miller explains that the philosophy behind the importance of ‘ditching’ textbooks is that students are growing up with technology, and we need to not only use tech in our classrooms for learning experiences, but we also need to teach our students how to use it appropriately, and how to find answers to their questions. (Inquiring minds are happy minds!) Teachers are no longer the gatekeepers and beacons of knowledge that all information comes from. Rather, we are guides and facilitators of learning and how to access reliable information. Ditching a textbook is not just moving to a digital version of the textbook, either. It is showing students how to access the unlimited knowledge that is out there, and how to get that information quickly and accurately.
So how do we get teachers (who typically don’t like change) to change their mindsets and teaching styles to adapt towards the future? It’s all about simple changes and shifts and, at the end of the day, making it 100% about the kiddos. Making these shifts away from pre-made tests, going page-by-page through a textbook from 5 years ago; and moving towards a more personalized, student-centered classroom will help us become better and more connected educators. Now, teachers don’t need to do everything at once and throw away all of their textbooks; however, we can make our lives easier by focusing on what is truly best for our students.
“Teachers often say they’re overworked and underpaid, and we are. But maybe the overworked part is partially our own fault. By keeping a laser focus on what we want to accomplish, we can reduce or eliminate wasteful and ineffective methods” (Miller, 2015, Pg. 94).
In today’s classrooms, students need to have voice and share their ideas in a global forum. By incorporating digital tools and having students share their work online, we are exposing them to global perspectives that will allow for collaboration and communication through learning and discussion. By stepping outside of textbooks and connecting with real-world and real-time information we are able to bring the world into our classrooms.
How many times have we held onto textbooks from college thinking, "Oh, I will totally use this again!"? But whenever you need an answer to your question: what do you do? More than likely you Google it. Isn't this exactly what our students are doing? Shouldn't we be helping our students be able to find answers to the questions they have, from any place in the world?
Obviously change cannot happen overnight, and in order for us to do what is truly best for students, we need to change our mindset and our educational philosophy. We need to stop doing what’s easy (open a book, answer the questions) and start doing what is right (giving or students experiences and connections).
If “Ditching That Textbook” sounds interesting to you, or you would like to learn more, I highly recommend reading THIS BOOK.
If “Ditching That Textbook” sounds interesting to you, or you would like to learn more, I highly recommend reading THIS BOOK.
Here are a few additional and awesome resources from Matt Miller, too, to help bring your classroom into the digital age with fun and engaging activities.
Also, if you haven’t already, I HIGHLY recommend getting a professional Twitter to connect to teachers across the globe (this is how I discovered this Matt Miller guy). It will be the best PD you will ever have, and you will find groups of like-minded individuals, and become a better teacher. You can read the blog I did for our school district about how Twitter has changed my professional life!
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