Nobody can deny that we are living in a world where technology is constantly evolving, and brings about change to the education world as it was once known. After reading these articles, I think it is now more important than ever to help cultivate a classroom environment where technology is not just present, but used in a way that helps deepen the learning that is taking place.
In A Rich Seam, Fullen & Langworthy (2014) stated that our new digital era is fostering changes in the classrooms setting. We are moving from students being able to apply skills to show that they have mastered the single concept, to using technology to enhance learning and apply their knowledge to real world application style problems. Students should be able to see that what they are learning is applicable to situations that they might encounter in the real world, instead of being able to regurgitate information that has been memorized. We are now aimed at helping to foster creative thinkers, problem solvers, and collaborators all while using technology effectively to help in the process.
When reading the article on digital and media literacy, one thing that really stood out to me was, "For people to achieve the personal, professional, and social benefits of thriving in a digital age, these skills are not just optional, or desirable-they are essential elements of digital citizenship" (Hobbs, 2011). I could not agree more with this statement. As a current Computer Science teacher, I spend so much of my time meeting students where they are comfortable with technology use, while also emphasizing the importance of developing those skills further. This helps to ensure that in the long run they have the skillset needed for most fields of work. Simply drawing their attention to the fact that these media literacy skills are important for future success is not enough. I have to provide them with the tools they need to actually know how to use technology efficiently.
In The Adoptions Process II, I made a lot of connections to situations I have encountered in my own career as an educator. When new ideas, school plans, technology initiatives, etc. have been brought forth, you will also have your varying adopter levels. Reading about the varying levels, from Innovators all the way through Laggards, in my mind it was clear that I have seen and heard from someone who would fit those categories. Concerning my personal experiences, it relates a lot to the teacher and their experience level. While it may not always be the case, I have noticed that those who are more experienced have a harder time straying from their "norm", or the traditional methods they use in their classroom. While everyone may not adopt new technology ideas at the same rate, or with the same enthusiasm, in today's world it is a necessity.
Going forward, it is crucial for us as educators to prepare our students to be successful in this constantly changing digital age. Through effective use of technology as an enhancement tool, we can help foster a deeper level of learning, and hopefully produce more creative thinkers and problem solvers.
References:
Fullan, M. & Langworthy, M. (2014). A rich seam: 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
Hobbs, R. (2011). Empowering learners with digital and media literacy. Knowledge Quest, 39(5), 12- 17. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
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
Kuhn, M. S. (2008). Connecting depth and balance in class. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36(1), 18-21. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.
Rogers, E. M. (1963). The adoption process II. Journal of Cooperative Extension, 1(2), 69-75. Retrieved from https://archives.joe.org/joe/1963summer/1963-2-a2.pdf
Your blog post was a great interpretation of each of the articles. I agree with your thoughts about the article on digital and media literacy. Meeting students where they are comfortable is also a part of my teaching. I am a fourth grade science and social studies teacher, but I use a lot of technology in the classroom. Each year my plans are different, because each group of students are on different technology levels. I also agree with your ending that today it is necessary to incorporate technology into the classroom. It will be easier for some and more difficult for others, but it opens up more opportunities for student growth.
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