"Overqualified" Techies

[nicomendoza]

I have a number of students over the past years who feel "overqualified" for instruction in terms of technology. I am teaching a class intended to foster effective use and application of technology, going to say that its integration is an objective of the class over and above a superior technical command of technology itself.

In these cases, technically-proficient students tend to defy instruction, believing they could do the objectives in a much better manner, their way. It is an impediment to instruction and overall classroom dynamics.

However, as much as I would like to remove these students from the class, I am concerned about violating the rights of these students. I can't write them up for being disrespectful either, since their actions would not be otherwise quantifiable, and it would merely reflect on their overall outlook in class. Instead, I am thinking of discussing this issue upfront and having the students sign a commitment letter to accept instruction and not to disrupt it unconstructively. But, I can't figure out how to be specific in the wording.

If you had any ideas, or alternative plans on how I can handle this, I'd surely appreciate it.

Thanks,

Nico

[Krafty]

It is hard for a student to focus on what you are instructing when they feel they already know it and have decided they are going to be bored. There are a lot of tech savvy kids out there who will find a basic computer class to be quite mundane.

Would it be possible to develop an advanced class geared toward those kids that are ahead of the curve on technology? Before they can skip the other class they have to prove competency in the cirriculum they wish to skip? Or have extra work that would keep them occupied/challenged so you could concentrate on the students that need the more basic instruction? Even look to setup working pairs - novice with advanced students? I think with some creativity you can minimize the disruption yet keep everyone engaged.

[SLP]

Maybe, since they feel they already know so much about the technology, you could have them design their own project for integrating and applying technology to a field or task for which they are familiar or unfamiliar. You could give them a general area (topic/task) ( or let them choose) and then have them design methods or creative ways to use the technology. Challenge them by saying you want new, innovative uses, not the ones you find on the internet!

There are so many and varied fields you could choose...I'm thinking: sports, weather, playground design, ecology, music, oceanography, sales/marketing, polls, migration, immigration...the list goes on forever! Maybe if you let them make the choice, they will be motivated to do the project on your terms & with your objectives.

Is this what you mean? To create new ways to integrate technology into a variety of fields?

[SLP]

Oh, oh, oh, call on me! Raising hand repeatedly....

How about this?
Have those students go into the community and find people who do not use computers/technology in their jobs. Have them interview those professionals and maybe even observe them doing their jobs. Then have them develop ways that technology could be integrated into those specific jobs to make them easier, more efficient, or to expand the business. They could even use their tech smarts to design programs/spreadsheets, etc. to assist the person. They could also analyze the professional person's willingness or resistance to the use of technology. They may actually end up helping their community as part of this project!