According to the “Digital Denizen” (http://www.stockton.edu/~intech/spotlight-digital-denizens.htm), I would classify myself as a
digital native. I have grown up
using technology, and am able to manipulate certain technology in order to complete
certain tasks. Growing up, I
helped my parents figure out and understand how to use some technologies, for
example: the computer, cell phones, games, etc. However, in today’s world, I would consider myself to be a
digital immigrant. There are so
many new devices coming out that I have yet had a chance to interact with. These devices include: iPad, iPhone,
iTouch, etc. I am not able to use
these devices to my fullest ability as I was able to with other technologies
in the past. Technology is always growing and expanding, and as teachers, I
believe we need to be up-to-date with each change, being significant or insignificant.
If
a teacher is willing to use technology in the classroom, then I believe
students will have a greater opportunity of using technology in their daily
lives outside of school. Technology can give
students a variety of experiences that would be far different from experiences
without technology. At a young age, I learned basic skills on the computer,
such as writing word documents. I
was not able to move onto more complicated tasks, such as power point and excel
until I was fairly competent in working with word documents. After reflecting on my own technology
usage throughout my life, I decided to analyze the types of technology used
within my field placement. As I
observed the classroom technology more in-depth, I discovered that the only
technology used on a day-to-day basis was the Elmo and computer found in the
front of the room. The teacher
uses the Elmo to go over worksheets completed by students during classroom time. In addition to the Elmo, the computer is used to watch movies by connecting the computer to the projector in the front of the room. Students are able to see what’s on the
computer in a bigger format.
However, I believe there could be more technology used throughout the
classroom to enhance the students’ learning. Certain reading and writing activities could be helpful to
students who need more help, such as audio books, Wikki Stix, speaking devices,
etc.
^^The Elmo used in my classroom
http://www.wikkistix.com/educational_language_arts.php
^^^This is Wiki Stix- Awesome resource for readers
http://readingat.weebly.com/index.html
^^^Also, this is a website my peer and I created that includes reading and writing programs for students to access if they need resources in language arts.
As
I was reading Tompkins’s chapter about emergent
literacy learners, I noticed these learners focus on book-handling skills,
basic writing exercises (letters, spaces between words, few sentences, etc.),
and basic reading activities (identifying most letters, letter sounds,
etc.). These are only a few of
activities students participate in as emergent literacy learners. Before emergent learners move onto more
advanced tasks of language arts, they need to understand and master the
basics. This can related back to technology, because people must know the basics of technology in order to understand more complicated and difficult technologies. Finding a sturdy
foundation for students to stem from is very important to their learning.
When looking at my digital learning path, I
think I can compare closely to ELLs.
As technology becomes more and more advanced, I feel as if I am not able
to keep up with the changes, which makes me feel less competent in technology. As I observed a high school ELL
classroom, I could see some students were having difficulties in English. They were trying to complete many
advanced tasks without knowing the basics of the language. There was a great amount of struggle,
and the teacher had to go back and teach students the grammar basics of
English. As I said earlier, I
think it is very important to make sure students have a strong foundation of
language in order to learn higher skills.
Along with Lindsay, I considered myself a digital native growing up, but now I consider myself a digital immigrant. When I was younger, there was less technology available and it was simpler (or so it seemed to me) so I could keep track of what was new and learn to master it. Now, I am much different. I have an iTouch, a laptop, and a smartphone, but I can honestly say (with much embarrassment) that I don't use these devices to their potential because I either don't know these potential features exist on the devices or I know they exist, I just don't know how to use them.
ReplyDeleteI am in the same school as Lindsay (Elliott Elementary) but in a younger classroom (kindergarten). My CT has an Elmo that she uses to project worksheets, books, and sometimes she'll project her iPhone and play math games on it with her students if they have free time at the end of the day. This is about the only technology I see in my placement.
My greatest concern with the topic of technology in the classroom is how do I keep up? With new technology (in many different topics) coming out every few months, how can I stay on top of what I know and what I still need to learn? Additionally, how do I assess what is necessary or potentially useful to incorporate in my classroom? But then there's the questions of what if my classroom doesn't even have one computer, like the one in my placement? Or any other type of engaging electronic device?
At this point, I feel like I have way more questions than I do answers. One thing I know for sure is that when I find some new technology that is proven to be beneficial to students, I will make sure that I learn how to utilize it and then get it into my classroom as soon as I can.
Well, according to “Digital Denizen” I think I might be a digital flop – I couldn’t get the survey to work. Had it worked I think it might have said that I am a digital immigrant, “a person in this category has willingly traveled to the land of technology. Although unfamiliar with the full potential of various electronic tools, s/he holds an underlying belief that technology can be a useful tool, especially for repetitive tasks. S/he may have grown up with technology or may have adopted technology as an adult.” I would like to consider myself more of a tech guy, but compared to most, I am probably just average when it comes to a technology lifestyle. I have my laptop, that in college is more important than perhaps in the real world. I have my ipod, that I rarely listen to unless I can’t sleep. And I have the internet, which at times to me feels more like a job of staying socially interesting and present online.
ReplyDeleteLike you Lindsay, the whole iphenomenon has not caught on with me. This might not be for lack of “want” and more due to a lack of “cash,” but I don’t think we should count ourselves out of the tech world because we are not ipeople. It is simply about staying relevant and aware of what is available and open to incorporating technology when it makes your life easier, better, or more substantial.
In dealing with education and technology, I think we have to be careful to say that using technology will automatically make the classroom better. Technology is a tool – the same as paper and pencil. Paper and pencil can do great things, and it can also lead to boring worksheets (like Dora from the 2004 Mohr article). If Dora had been doing the same style of assignments on say an ipad, it still would have been unauthentic and not very valuable instruction.