Theories in Critical Thinking

Theories of the Digital Learner

In this highly digital world, information is readily and literally at our fingertips. Highly engaging conversations, the most prepared writings, and the best researched ideas have their beginnings at the writer’s beck and call over internet capabilities and can be quickly accessed at the speed of 4G! My thought on this subject is that the question really is not whether the students can keep up with the pace of instruction in the 21st Century, but more can the methods to deliver this instruction keep up with the pace that students are able to ingest.

While reading through the thoughts of “Deep Learning” authored by Fullan and Langworthy, I can’t help but agree that today’s learners have enough knowledge and are able to pursue learning goals on their own. I would like to think that I have technological abilities and am in tune enough to this digital world and can maneuver my way to instructing students through a digital lesson plan. The thought always go back to the fact that students are ever more technology savvy and up to date on all the new technologies. Students seem to be able to steer through to learning for themselves. My challenge in my mind is can I create real world digital experiences for my students that will take them into real life working experiences.

The fact is that because information is so readily available to everyone, students can self-learn. The challenge for universities and instructional technologists is can we keep pace in our digital technology to support students enrolling into classes. The synthesis for me is learn and understand how important the digital environment is to my future students, learn how to master creating instruction that will be engaging and challenging to them, and provide input into the university as to the importance of building a digital infrastructure that will meet the needs of the 21st Century learner.

Theories of Critical Thinking

Among the many articles, it is evident that students need to be able to apply and create, problem solve, and be literate in technology to be a successful critical thinker. It is difficult for a teacher to ensure that all students are able to do this. A teacher would have to use Bloom's to create elaborate lessons, have students create and evaluate project after project to meet standards, and ensure students are taking ownership of their learning while the teacher is merely the facilitator.

Unfortunately, all of that creates stress and hardship for the teacher to be able to plan and fit in. Thankfully, technology enhances learning and aids teachers in being able to not only give all of the above mentioned opportunities to students but also to engage and challenge students in differentiated ways. With new innovations and new simple-to-use technology, such as Google apps, Seesaw, and Canvas, students of all ages can work at their own pace using the most up-to-date technology.

While explicit teaching in the classroom cannot be replaced, teachers need to recognize the value and novelty of digital literacy in the classroom. For the generation that is in elementary school today, technology has always been a part of their life. Younger teachers seem to be the first demonstrate innovative teaching strategies; most older teachers tend to follow their lead. While new technology for older teachers can be scary (because, let's face it, you grew up in a time where if you clicked the wrong button you lost everything you'd been working on), we as teachers don't want our students to be lacking in digital literacy skills because we were afraid to learn new things and branch out of our comfort zone.

Even the youngest of students can be digitally aware and literate. As a kindergarten teacher, my students use Google apps, Seesaw, code.org and Scratch for block coding, among many, many others. I am able to recognize the value in technology for students because I can visualize where our world is headed: a world that is almost solely digitally based. The quicker that I am able to teach students how to be safe online, how to find quality information effectively, and how to distinguish what software is best for certain types of projects, the more successful these digital citizens will be in their future.

Theories of Critical Thinking

Bloom's Taxonomy is something that has always been difficult to teach as a whole group. Making sure all students can work on all levels of the taxonomy is a challenge. Today's technology has made this much easier. Today, we can incorporate the different levels and experiences through technology. This allows each child to work on their level increase as they master each level. Technology is allows students to dig deeper in their learning. Technology allows me to allow my students to explore the internet and find answers to their own questions. This is a skill that will go with them the rest of their lives. I love that through technology my students' can develop a questions, research that question, share with others and create data from a collaborative effort. Technology if always changing and through this students are always learning new things. Technology allows students and teachers alike to do things easier, more efficiently and in different ways. Students always think doing things with technology is more fun than the old fashion way. With this, not all teachers are as open to this change as others. New, younger teachers are usually more open this change. Once other teachers see how the students are learning and enjoying class, others will usually join in. As technology changes, the teachers that are the most resistant to change will eventually not have a choice and will have to junk on the technology band wagon. I enjoyed reading these articles. I think all this information made since and is very true for today. Technology comes with a lot of changes and you either need to jump or or be left behind. Students use technology everyday outside of school and if I can reach my students with technology why wouldn't I?