Technology is constantly changing, our classrooms and schools have to change with it! I teach kindergarten and honestly technology does not play a big part of our day. I use technology in the classroom, but my students only use them for assessments, or free time. I taught third grade for 2 years and my students were on their device for a large chunk of the day. I found some of these articles very interesting.
I am going to be completely honest. I have been teaching for 14 years, and I have never heard of, that I can remember, "deep learning." In the article, "A Rich Seam," they state that the goals of deep learning are that students will gain the competencies and dispositions that will prepare them to be creative, connected, and collaborative life-long problem solvers and to be healthy, hositic human beings who not only contribute to but also create the common good in today's knowledge-based, creative, interdependent world. (Fullman & Langworthy) When students are engaged in deeper learning, they think more critically, communicate and work better with others across all subjects. Using technology during instruction can foster more student engagement.
The second chapter of "A Rich Seam," was my favorite. I love the quote at the beginning, "Technology is just a tool. It's a powerful tool, but it's just a tool. Deep human connection is very different. It's not a tool. It's not a means to an end. It is the end- the purpose and a the result of meaningful life." (Gates) This chapter really is the heart of most all teachers that I know. Our goal is help the student learn in the best way he/she can. There are constantly new ideas, new pedagogies, new technology being thrown at teachers. They are wonderful, but first there has to be that deep connection with the student before we can have that deep learning I spoke of above. I think this could be applied to all relationships in the school setting.
Bloom's taxonomy is something I heard about all throughout my college career. It is a tool that teachers use to develop learning outcomes. It is also helpful in designing classroom activities and assessments of student learning. Bloom's taxonomy moves students from the most basic skill to higher order thinking skills. Most teacher created assessments test at the lower level of the taxonomy, research has shown that students remember more when they learn to handle the topics of the higher level of the taxonomy. (Garavalia, Hummel, Wiley, & Huitt, 1999) Yes, teachers use Bloom's in the classroom, but I am working on my Media Specialist degree, I can see how the librarian can use this in the library when teaching students about digital resources and research.
References:
Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014) A richseam: how new pedagogies find deep learning. London: Pearson. Retrieved from https://www.pearson.com/content/dam/one-dot-com/one-dot-com/global/Files/about-pearson/innovation/open-ideas/ARichSeamEnglish.pdf
Huitt, W. (2011). Bloom et al.'s taxonomy of the cognitive domain. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/cognition/bloom.pdf
Hey Brittany! I really enjoyed reading your take on A Rich Seam. I too am a veteran teacher and I work in a subject area (Weight Training), where opportunities to utilize educational technology are rare. At one point, I was a skeptic of the overuse of technology in the classroom. My outlook has since changed drastically and I now totally see the benefits and necessity of deeper learning. I also totally agree with you on how the teacher/student relationship is most critical when it comes to student learning. Without a meaningful connection, students tend to tune out their teacher, regardless of the teaching style or techniques.
ReplyDeleteChildren today are exposed to so much more information and knowledge than previous generations. I would dare say most high school students today would be more knowledgeable than I, in a given academic subject area. Text book knowledge is just surface for many young people today, because they can literally dive deeper into any given subject area, with the click of their mouse or thumb. It is for this reason that new pedagogies must be adopted by our educational systems.
Brittany, like you I had never heard of deep learning either. I enjoyed diving into that subject and really getting in depth on what deep learning is. I also thought how important it was to mention technology is a tool, not the main goal of education. As a teacher I have always tried my best to find ways to integrate the highest levels of Bloom's and that has really helped me in my career. You listed some great tools that we all can use in our educational journey.
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