Reflections for the Future

Since this post signifies the end of my required blogging I want to use it to reflect on some of the things that really stood out to me while taking this digital technology in the classroom course. The main overall point I would like to make is how I have been able to gain a greater appreciation for digital technology in the classroom as well as the use of multimodal literacies. Initially, while I knew it held benefits for some students, I had viewed technology more as a distraction due to my personal experience as a student with technology in my classrooms. However, after taking this class I can see how beneficial technology can be and how it can greatly enhance a student's learning experience.

Of course, a big part of its success is due to the teachers knowledge of how to properly implement various types of technology. For example knowing how to block inappropriate or distracting websites when having your students work online for a project. Or using devices such as a SMART Board for lessons that cannot be done in the traditional way with pen and paper. I have learned that there is a difference between simply sugar coating a traditional lesson with technology use and actually using it to have a real multimodal lesson.

Although we only had the chance to dabble in some of the resources (common craft videos, SMART Boards, online puzzle makers, rubric creators, word clouds, etc.) for using digital technology in the classroom, I have seen how it opens doors for creativity and ways of learning. Lessons can be more accommodating for the various types of learners. It is easier to create a single lesson for visual, auditory, and hands-on learners. It can also provide a fun and inviting aspect to classroom learning for some students who are more reluctant to become engaged. I feel that technology also allows for more creativity to take place.

Another significant element I really took from this class was the greater ability for teacher connectivity. This can be teacher-to-teacher, teacher-to-students, and teachers-to-parents. I had never really considered the various ways of having these connections besides the traditional student agenda books or face to face meetings. However, with resources such as blogs, blendspace, e-portfolios, Wiki spaces, and so on the ease of getting connected rests at our fingertips. Being able to connect with other teachers and share information is so useful. Learning about what other teachers have tried and learned what works and doesn't can make lesson planning so much easier. Being able to create class pages online where homework and projects can be posted for students to access reduces some of the inconveniences of paper. It also provides a way to post school news for parents to access and find out what is going on at their child's school (because honestly, some of the younger kids are not going to remember to tell their parents all the little details they were told during the day). And sites such as e-portfolios allows students another venue to showcase their work besides the school hallways. Students may put more care into their work if they know they will be able to post it online for a greater selection of peers to view.

So, I believe it is safe to say I have been able to gain a greater appreciation for the use of technology in classroom settings. There are negatives and many things to consider when planning to use it in a classroom, but once a teacher learns how to use and integrate a balance of technology into their classroom a whole world of opportunities opens up!

Technology Dependency

Technology can be such a beneficial tool that can enhance students' learning. However, with the drastic surge in its use in the past 50 years or so it seems as though we have come to rely on it a little too much. First of all, what if the power were to go out? We know what to do with ourselves? Would we still know how to conduct fun and engaging lessons if our digital technology took a fall?

The main concern I have for bringing up the dependency on technology in a classroom is when it becomes used in place of developing skills. For instance, when my younger sister was in about grade two, my parents attended a parent-teacher meeting to discuss my sisters school work. My parents brought up the topic of improving her spelling ability to which the teacher's reply is something I find to be a bit disturbing. The teacher answered, “Oh, don't worry about it. Just teacher her to use spell check on the computer.” This teacher was suggesting that her student become reliant on technology rather than work on honing her spelling skills. As you may agree (which I hope you do) that this is an extreme reliance on technology which should not act as a teaching method. I believe the purpose of digital tools is to help develop skills, not replace them. Otherwise, yes, we may become smarter in terms of technological knowledge, but we do it at the risk of loosing other necessary skills.

Learning to balance the use of technology is important. As teachers and future teachers we should be using it as a method for building skills, not replacing them.

How much freedom is too much?

I always thought it was amazing what and how children could learn when left to their own devises. I believe that our minds were made to learn and continue to learn for our whole lives.

I watched this TED talk video by Sugata Mitra entitled “The child-driven education” (http://goo.gl/MYS9). I found it to be very inspiring as to the learning capacity of children. Even without any formal education children will teach themselves and their peers when they wish to learn. When they decide to invest in something they are interested in they can achieve what may seem impossible.

However, this also got me thinking. How much freedom should be given to children who are being taught in the classroom? There is a curriculum which has guidelines and standards that are expected to be met. How can we as future teachers meet these standards while allowing the children to drive and direct the education. There are some schools which have, or are in the works of, implementing play based learning. Is this not the same as child driven education? If I am understanding this correctly, in these methods of education, the teacher follows the guidance of their students in what subjects are being covered and what methods are used to engage in those subjects. How much freedom is appropriate when allowing children to direct the education happening in a classroom? If teachers follow their students guides will there be important components or skills that get left behind in the process? How can we find that even balance of child driven education and teaching the basics covered by the curriculum?

How much freedom should be given to child driven education? Thoughts, comments, advice?