Unit 6 - Assignment 1 - Blog 3
I really enjoy reading various up-to-date articles each week in regards to technology in education. I often read a few, maybe 6 or 7, and then choose the one I feel I've gained the most insight from to share in my blog. I came across a very interesting article called, "A Model for the Digital Classroom." This article shares that digital learning has been shown to boost achievement. It begins by reminding the reader that technology in classrooms used to mean a few desktop computers in the back of a classroom. Technology you see in classrooms now typically could involve some or all of the following: iPads, tablets, laptops, desktops, SMARTboards, clickers, projectors, etc. The edtech space has only gotten more exciting and expansive each and every year. Stated directly from the article, "Digital learning has been shown to boost student achievement and is vital to the modernisation of school curriculums, helping teachers deliver better results for a generation of digital natives." Thinking about the fact that students, even as young as kindergarteners, are digital natives, makes even me feel old! Although I am only 27 years old, I would fit in the category of having desktop computers in the computer lab as my form of technology in school. Teaching kindergarten and finding that some of my students have more knowledge about certain things on tablets, reminds me that if I want to reach my students where they are, it is imperative that technology is used often in the classroom.
The article continues by listing some cutting edge technology we can expect in the near future. One idea is that institutions will begin to gain access to data from mobile devices and networks as long as the devices are on the premises. The theory is that having access to what/when the students are using their devices may assist teachers in seeing which students are engaged during class time and students who may be physically present but not participating in class. There is the question on privacy and what data would be shared, but it's a possibility in the near future. Virtual reality and augmented reality are also talked about in the article. Teachers are able to use these to immerse their students in realistic simulations. I think it is incredible to think I could take my students on a trip to the Statue of Liberty without leaving the classroom!
I think much of the article is thought provoking when thinking about all students, but specifically ELL students. Whether you speak English, Spanish, German, French, etc., technology knows no limits or boundaries when it comes to language. Technology is seen as a common language, that all can understand and use to communicate. I think giving students experiences like virtual reality would really help ELL students connect with their peers. I must say, this article made me think quite a bit about where we will be going with technology in the future in our classrooms.
Click here to view original article.
The article continues by listing some cutting edge technology we can expect in the near future. One idea is that institutions will begin to gain access to data from mobile devices and networks as long as the devices are on the premises. The theory is that having access to what/when the students are using their devices may assist teachers in seeing which students are engaged during class time and students who may be physically present but not participating in class. There is the question on privacy and what data would be shared, but it's a possibility in the near future. Virtual reality and augmented reality are also talked about in the article. Teachers are able to use these to immerse their students in realistic simulations. I think it is incredible to think I could take my students on a trip to the Statue of Liberty without leaving the classroom!
I think much of the article is thought provoking when thinking about all students, but specifically ELL students. Whether you speak English, Spanish, German, French, etc., technology knows no limits or boundaries when it comes to language. Technology is seen as a common language, that all can understand and use to communicate. I think giving students experiences like virtual reality would really help ELL students connect with their peers. I must say, this article made me think quite a bit about where we will be going with technology in the future in our classrooms.
Click here to view original article.
The title of your article alone is very interesting...the word "model" really sticks out. We're creatures of habit and model for our kids all day. We see that word and bam! Draws us right in. I had a hard time visualizing student mobile devices being the sole device used for educational purposes within a classroom. I can definitely see how this could work as a supplemental tech piece but not the sole device used. Let's be real...how many of those kids do you think would stay 100% focused and on task for the entire lesson. Not one Instastory, Tik Tok, or Snapstory watched. Not one text viewed. Truly engaged. Could it happen? Absolutely, it could. But the likelihood that it would be more beneficial than other devices used? Not sure about it. You are definitely correct though about technology being a unifier amongst our students. Our students need authentic learning opportunities and technology has the ability to offer that.
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteI am 31 and I always feel like I am still fairly young, but you are right: the changes in technology have aged use much faster than time has! Technology has even changed since 3 or 4 years ago (hello air pods my arch nemesis!) I like that the article references virtual immersion opportunities. These technological advances could help bridge the gap in funding, so rather than needing a field trip students could visit virtually. Then the question of charging for the virtual immersion may come into play so those institutions don't lose patronage. These are all discussions that need to be carefully considered. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your comment on feeling old when hearing of kindergartens being digital natives. I'm 25, and at times I feel like I can relate to my students when they discuss what it's like growing up in a technological world. Many of my students complain that social media can be a negative influence and a breeding ground for cyber-bullying. Many of my students complain that screen time is impacting their ability to focus. My middle-school self would've agreed with all of that. However, I don't think my childhood was nearly as technologically influenced as my current students. Similar to what you said, when I was in school, technology was desktops set up on the back table. Now, technology is everywhere. Elementary students in my district use iPads every day. And it's awesome in so many ways! But I definitely agree that we need to figure out how to create a successful and effective digital classroom model. Maybe it could come from monitoring these devices. I'm not sure if that's what needs to be done. Instead, I think we need to study more of how to use devices in school in a meaningful way. It seems like this article you found discusses just that but also proves how effective technology can be for ELL students. It really can break down boundaries and bring students together. Thank you for sharing!