Learning in a Digital World

Learning in a Digital World

Over the course of my life I have seen the field of education change. As a student I remember when computers became part of the curriculum with limited use, due to accessibility. I remember not using a word processor but a type writer when typing papers. I also remember school being an individual experience; collaboration and cooperative groups were not the norm. So, education today is drastically different from the education of my childhood. Today‘s educational philosophies must include students use of technology, collaboration, and take into account the global citizenship of learners. Also in developing a philosophy we must also recognize that as society, technology, and expectations change; so, should our educational philosophy.

As an educator I believe that educators should always focus on what is important for students to be successful in the academic world and in society. This encompasses all aspects of a child: social, emotional, and academic. Today the social, emotional, and academic aspects of students also include technology. So, as an educator I must prepare my students for face-to-face interactions but also for online encounters. I first had to become more aware of technology myself. By preparing myself and becoming more knowledgeable about the technologies. It allowed my understanding to be transferred to my students. Just 2 years ago I was a technology novice, but now with every day I learn more about technology; Keller explains this growth process in his ARCS (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction).  I have also found that Emotional Intelligence is useful in the field of education.  All students have emotions and when using technology students’ emotions can be impacted by: (1) lack of technology experience, (2) lack of understanding how to use technology, (3) and not having access to technology outside of school (those feeling inferior).  Through this process I have had to help my students learn how to handle their emotions and understand the things they can control and the things they can’t. I have made sure that parents and students know how they can access technology before or after school. Although education has changed throughout the years there remains the same goal: to prepare our students to be successful contributors to society.

Module 5 - New Technologies

My school building is only 4 years old, and the plan was for every classroom to have a promethean board. However, due to budget cuts all classes did not receive boards. The school administration decided to randomly select who got promethean boards. The staff was curious about the Promethean Boards because they were a new technology; promoting attention or active participation according to Keller’s ARCS of Motivation. The first year I did not have a promethean board but I wanted one. I was highly disappointed to see how the boards were being used. Some teachers were just using the Promethean Board to display overhead transparencies.  Most teachers took courses via the district or Promethean Planet to learn how to use the boards effectively in their lessons.  The courses help some teachers find relevance in the use of the Boards in their lessons; whereas, others were in a place of dissonance. Even with these efforts most teachers continued not to use the boards effectively. Fortunately, I received my promethean board and have helped the teachers on my grade level utilize the technology in their classrooms more effectively. The teachers began to gain confidence and utilize the promethean boards more in all lessons. The teachers have begun to make their own flip charts. We have not made it to the level of satisfaction, however with every day, week, month, and year we are getting closer. In order to continue to make these strides my team discusses our Promethean Boards in the lessons on a weekly basis in our grade level meetings. We have begun to develop flipcharts to accommodate lesson plans when submitting for the team.  I think by planning and developing as  a group it has helped to foster attention, motivation, relevance, and confidence on my grade level with the use of the Promethean board.