I find it amazing to see the skills that young people have using technology. The younger generation, known as digital natives, have grown up in a time when advanced technology has been around for the majority of our lives. As a student, I am using technology for research, studying, blogging, and connecting with friends and family. As an educator I use technology for lesson enrichment, research, resources, and professional learning networks. It is hard to imagine a society when all of these things are not, quite literally, at my fingertips. I think that this has huge implications for the education system and can help us to develop an education system that matches the recent and rapid advances in technology. First off, I would like to mention that I know that being a (self proclaimed) 'digital native' myself, it is hard to imagine a society different from how we live today. I understand that for some people ('digital immigrants') technology isn't always seen as a great asset to education but rather a burden or another thing to implement in lessons. I think that there is a bit of a disconnect between implementing technology just to implement it and purposeful integration which I have mentioned in a previous post. I think that part of this disconnect can be solved with quality teacher education programs and ongoing professional development and support for teachers that are newcomers to the technology era.
After reading Smirnova's article on Technology Enhanced Teaching and Learning for Student (and Teacher) Success, I was more able to elaborate on what effective technology integration might entail. She mentions that we now need to add three "R's" into our literacy toolbox when teaching young people. These would include rigour (accuracy and validity), relevance, and relationships (ability to network). These would make literacy an all encompassing term to include digital literacy. Smirnova identifies that the new Web 2.0 can help to facilitate collaboration, social networking, active participation, increased productivity, and creative authorship to mention a few. This has been seen to enhance student engagement and developed effective communication. She even mentions that we can now give a sense of affect with emoticons :). This type of web based learning is amazing because it puts students in the driver's seat and allows them to be active participants in their own learning. It also allows students to have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. If they have a question, they Google it and can quite possibly have millions of search results to help them out. I would have my students use Google to help define complex biology terms, which I realize is quite a superficial implementation of technology, but even this minor use of technology kept the students on their toes and engaged.
I also really enjoyed the Alberta Education article called From Knowledge to Action. The article describes a hierarchy that can be used to describe meaningful technology integration. It breaks down technology use from being quite superficial and passive to where student are actively contributing to their understanding and learning of content and skills. There are 6 tiers as listed below:
1. Content Sharing
2. Online Conversation
3. Meaningful Online Conversation
4. Drawing on Students Experiences
5. Problem Based/ Service Learning
6. Direct Experience/ Action Learning
I think that if we keep this in the back of our minds, similar to Bloom's taxonomy, we swill be able to shift to a purposeful and meaningful incorporation of technology into the classroom.
I am excited to be a new teacher in Alberta because of the positive changes and adaptations that are happening to suit this new E-learning environment. I think it is great that we are re-thinking some of the Provincial Achievement Tests as well as offering the opportunity for students to complete exams digitally. I am also keen on the flex program that allows students to work through a program or course at their own speed (to an extent). I also like the idea of having a dual credit system that could allow students to get credits for a course to help them to advance through post-secondary schooling. I think that Alberta is making the right steps to facilitate these new age learners to help to create engaged, motivated, and compassionate citizens.
That's it for now.
Smirnova, L. (2008, 11 22). Technology enhanced teaching and learning for student (and teacher) success. Retrieved from NYU Faculty Resource Center. (2008, 11 22). Technology enhanced teaching and learning for student (and teacher) success. Retrieved from http://www.nyu.edu/frn/publications/defining.success/Smirnova.html
Lepi, K. (2013, 06 26). How students are using the internet for studying. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/how-students-are-using-the-internet-for-studying/
Alberta Education. (2012). Responsive curriculum for a digital age. Retrieved from http://education.alberta.ca/media/6809287/j_chapter7.pdf