Theories of Critical Thinking
We live in a world that is ever changing and it is changing fast. The idea of the first personal computer did not even exist until the 1950s and was not actually marketed until 1968. We as a human race have taken technology to where it is now at an astounding rate. The children of this generation have always known technology as a part of their lives. They are better able to adapt to new learning s and can sometimes better navigate different technologies better than some adults. When considering the theories of Deep Learning, Bloom's Taxonomy, the Diffusion of Innovations, and the Types of Adopters, and the effects it has on students, teachers, and technology in the classroom, different perspectives are given to help implement technology into the classroom.
The traditional methods of learning are fading away, while innovative approaches are emerging, even if they face resistance. The Adoption Process highlights that initially, only a small group embraced a new concept before it gained wider acceptance. As someone who remembers a time before personal computers and mobile phones, I can relate to this. I recall introducing these technologies to older relatives when they first appeared. This experience has led me to believe in the importance of addressing a child’s educational needs. As educators, it is essential for us to familiarize ourselves with the technologies that our students are using. Some teachers hesitate to incorporate technology into their classrooms, fearing it may create a disconnect between themselves and their students, as noted in the Deep Learning article. However, I believe we can strike a balance between utilizing technology and maintaining strong teacher-student relationships. It is crucial for us as educators to foster an active learning partnership.
As educators, it is our responsibility to foster growth and learning among our students. Investment and effort in education are at an all-time high. Concepts such as Deep Learning, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and the Diffusion of Innovations explore various methods to assist students in adjusting to a technology-driven learning landscape. Developing innovative teaching strategies will establish an interactive learning environment, where library media specialists work alongside teachers to integrate digital literacy into the classroom. Additionally, ensuring that students have a solid grasp of the foundational levels before progressing to more advanced concepts is essential. By incorporating technology in the classroom, teachers can more effectively tailor instruction to accommodate diverse learning styles. It is not enough to simply provide a device to a student and expect them to finish an assignment with a genuine understanding. We must strive to make learning significant and intentional, regardless of the tools used to convey the information.
Personally, I plan to implement, with intention, digital information of different varieties to students so they may be able to discover, create, and use knowledge in the real world. Digital information can vary from any form of expression of communication, including videos, music, and symbols. Creating an environment where students are comfortable learning is also something that is important to ensuring optimal learning. Being an educator I have learned that all students learn in different ways and at different rates. Moving forward I hope to learn more about different strategies to implement to more effectively integrate technology .
Citations
Fullan, M., Foreword, M., & Barber, M. (2014). A Rich Seam How New Pedagogies Find Deep Learning. 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.
Huitt, W. (2011). Bloom et al.'s taxonomy of the cognitive domain. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University.
https://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
Rogers, E.M. (1963). “The adoption process II”. Journal of Cooperative Extension, 1(2), 69-75.
https://archives.joe.org/joe/1963summer/1963-2-a2.pdf
I like how you talked about technology being in our kids lives as long as they remember. Talking with my own daughter and students they do not remember a time before smart phones, Netflix and being able to see or watch anything at the drop of a hat. This poses a problem for educators to effectively teach and implement technology in a way that is engaging and adding to, and expanding students knowledge. Our entire mindset around incorporating technology has to adapt to meet our students on every level of learning. Differentiation is one way that we can use technology to benefit our students.
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology has evolved fast! I remember when I did not even have a computer in my house (I was really young), but now we have it at our fingertips. You are right about students now are able to adapt to newer technology quicker. They have never known a life without technology. I like how you stated that educators need to embrace the changing technology. Students are going to use technology whether teachers do or not. This being said, educators need to be equipped to help guide the students with using the technology in a safe and purposeful way.
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