Blog Journal 1

Technology is All Around Us! 

We live in an increasingly technological world. The integration of technology into our lives began with the personal compter (abbreviated PC). It wasn’t long before this ground-breaking technology drasticly reshaped the way we approach everyday tasks. With new gadgets and advances in technology being made every year, educators need to engage students with technology-based learning so that they can positively interact with the ever-changing digital world.

ISTE Standards 

The International Society for Technology in Education outlines seven standards for teachers- (1) learner (2) leader (3) citizen (4) collaborator (5) designer (6) facilitator (7) analyst. My favorite of these seven is the role of a teacher as a collaborator. I feel like this is something that I've mastered throughout the course of my academic career. When I'm in school setting, both as an instructor and as a student, I like to bounce ideas off of the people around me. We all have different perspectives and we can learn a lot from one another by coming together to share those ideas!

Out of the seven standards, I think I could improve as an analyst. It's difficult for me understand and use data to help students achieve their learning goals, especially because every student experience is unique. 

Digital Native vs. Digital Immigrant 

Generally, I would agree with the concept of "digital native" and "digital immigrants". When I consider the correlation between age and computer competency, I do see a consistent pattern. That's not to say that there aren't some exceptions or outliers thrown into the mix, but by and large, younger people seem to catch on to advancing technology faster. The creation of the term, "digital native" is fitting because technology is somewhat of a home and comfort to those of us who grew up with it. The same cannot be said for older generations who view technology through an entirely different lens. It's something new- something foreign. 

I expect there to be a lot of differences between me and my future students in terms of how we use technology. There's no doubt that technology will, yet again, reshape the world we know in the next 15 years. Heck! Probably in the next 5 years. Who knows? Maybe I will be considered a "digital immigrant" compared to the new "digital natives" of the next generations. The progress doesn't stop, but I hope to close the widening gap between "digital natives" and "digital immigrants" by staying up to date with the ways technology can be used to navigate everyday life and facilitate learning in the classroom. 

Comments

  1. LaurenSeptember 17, 2018 at 2:25 PM

    Very good point about the "curve" when it comes to digital natives. I think you are correct that many young people fit that label; however, there are still outliers who do not.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Michaela M.September 18, 2018 at 9:02 AM

    I most definitely agree with you that as a teacher you have to be able to keep up with the new and ever-changing current technology. I think that by doing this it also allows your students to use technology that they may be more familiar with, making certain assignments more accessible to them rather than using an older technology that you as an educator may be more comfortable with, but they may not be fluent in.

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    Replies
    1. UnknownSeptember 18, 2018 at 9:14 AM

      Right! I've had teachers in the past who were insistent on using an old school projector instead of the brand new smart boards installed in their classrooms because that's what they were comfortable with lol! It didn't limit our learning, but there's so much more we can do with advancing, interactive technology.

      Delete
  3. UnknownSeptember 18, 2018 at 9:09 AM

    I love all the personality you put into your post. You can really see it in your last paragraph about digital natives and digital immigrants. The topic was already very relatable but by adding in the extra commentary, it made your post very enjoyable. You also had some really good points about choosing collaborator for the ISTE standard you have mastered.

    ReplyDelete

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