The
technology that we are incorporating in the classroom today can hardly keep up
to where students need to be in their future jobs. It is our job now to be
facilitators and teach those soft skills that connect their new learning to
real world circumstance. The theory of relative
advantage really hit home with me as a millennial because I have seen the shift
in the technology adoption that Rogers in The
Adoption Process (1963) discusses. I can see some of my co-workers being
called “farm people” for not embracing technology that will help make their
lives easier. In my own lifetime, cell phones were introduced and have replaced
several other items that everyone once needed. Some people did not feel the
need for cell phones at first but slowly everyone has went through all of the
stages mentioned in the article and are now carrying a cell phone. In return, cell
phone technology has changed society, some for the better, and some for the
worse. I can see my generation struggle with managing their time and
relationships because of it. I was amazed
Rogers predicted this in the 60’s.
Students
in the classroom cannot just be thrown a device and told what to do. Teachers
have to “empower their learning by making the technology meaningful.” (Hobbs,
2011) Technology is meant to take the lessons to the application and analysis
level, the most complex level of Bloom’s taxonomy. Students and even parents
need to be taught how to search and use the internet so that they can be proficient
in everyday use. Proficient also means more than just “googling it.” They need
to know how to decipher what is real and meaningful from what it not. In a
social media and news covered world, we as teachers need to be able to help our
students use these tools correctly. I believe that this is one of those
instances that we have to learn beside our students because both of these
technology platforms are ever changing and evolving. (Fullan and Langworthy,
2014)
In
the classroom, I am challenged with a time frame in which I have to teach
twenty students and do so by meeting all of their learning needs. Technology
has made this job of differentiating easier for me but at the same time
stepping up the rigor for my students. I can research and use programs designed
for my grade level and students’ interest. These allow students to work at
their pace and style at the times when I cannot guide them. It has revolutionized
core instruction in the classroom by giving me more time for small group
instruction. Technology makes it easier for teachers to get deeper with content
and take care of the needs of those who are advanced or those who need a
reteach of standards.
I
often consider how quickly technologies become “old and outdated” in our schools,
but I never considered the libraries that I used to check put those old VHS tapes
from. Just as we invest money in technology to invest in our student’s digital
literacy, libraries are expected to do the same. “Although investments have
been made…simply purchasing the latest digital technologies does not lead to
the acquisition of digital and media literacy competencies.” (Hobbs, 2011) We
need librarians and teachers that can teach how and when to use technology proficiently.
This is a hard task to take on when the tech
world is changing so fast.
Resources:
Fullen, M & Langworthy, M (2014) A rich seam: How new pedagogies find deep
learning.
London: Pearson.
Huitt,
W. (2011). Bloom et al.'s taxonomy of the cognitive domain. Educational
PsychologyInteractive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University.
Hobbs, R. (2011). Empowering
learners with digital and media literacy. Knowledge Quest, 39(5), 12-17
Rogers, E.M. (1963). The adoption
process II. Journal of Cooperative Extension, 1(2), 69-75.
Kyrie, I love your reflection and thoughts on the articles. I really connected with what you had to share. We both agreed that technology needs to be used for students to learn at a higher level than just putting it in front of them. It isn’t simply a replacement, it’s a tool that allows them to learn in a new, engaging way. I’m thankful for educators like you, who see the importance in continuing to improve how we teach and learn alongside our students!
ReplyDeleteI really like your thoughts and reflections on how our students need to be taught how to use technology. I have personally witnessed this many times in my classroom. Students know how to use cell phones and "google it" like you said, but many of our students do not know how to use the technology the way us as teachers want it to be used. I would also add that I think sometimes as teachers we limit our students from gaining these skills. Instead of just giving students a link for research have students find a credible website on their own. As teachers we are the leaders of the classroom we must do a better job of teaching our students good internet practices.
ReplyDeleteI really like your thoughts and reflections on how our students need to be taught how to use technology. I have personally witnessed this many times in my classroom. Students know how to use cell phones and "google it" like you said, but many of our students do not know how to use the technology the way us as teachers want it to be used. I would also add that I think sometimes as teachers we limit our students from gaining these skills. Instead of just giving students a link for research have students find a credible website on their own. As teachers we are the leaders of the classroom we must do a better job of teaching our students good internet practices.
ReplyDelete