Teaching and Technology, Best Practice and Pedagogical Flexibility
How I've experienced technology in the classroom has been very diverse in my short time of student observations and practicum fieldwork. When I was in high school, we used this email system called FirstClass, which was created in the '90s and had all kinds of glitches and technical difficulties. Hell, my high school did not even have WiFi until my sophomore year (though the computers had ethernet connection), so I feel that in my high school experience, I was in the digital dark age.
When I changed my major to Secondary Ed/English (the third time I changed my major), I was amazed by the new technology that was Google classroom. Before I entered SED 406, I had no idea that Google docs and all of Google's other wonderful software programs, like Google slides and Google forms, even existed! I had always loved the implementation of digital media in the classroom in my later high school experience, from documentaries on YouTube to Khan Academy, but I feel that with these programs offered by Google and the fact that most schools now have WiFi, the sky is the limit when implementing technology in the classroom.
And in my fieldwork experience, both in SED 407 and Practicum, I see a whole world of difference in the pedagogical practices that I was exposed to in high school. Gone seem the days of writing essays by hand and keeping binders full of handouts; now most students are only a few clicks away from accessing all the content of their courses. Moreover, students seem to be very receptive to the use of technology such as Google software, Kahoot, Prezi presentations, and whatever other wonderful programs that their teachers may find, use, and implement in the classroom. This is because these students are growing up in what I think is a digital renaissance, for they are maturing and learning in an era where technological advancement is happening at a faster rate than it ever has in human history. Thus, I think that as educators, we must not only realize that, we must capitalize upon it to reach as many student learners as possible.
To do so, I think it is essential to keep up with the times, as it were. I am always learning new things in my fieldwork experience, but I also feel it is important to do research and expand one's creative limits with the use of technology to reach as many student learners as possible. Many teachers that I have witnessed, for example, even use social media in the classroom in positive educational ways, such as the use of Bitmoji to reach students on a level of interaction they are familiar with, and using Twitter to post about content related to the class. These observations have kindled in me an understanding that we as educators must be flexible in many ways, from understanding the emotional domains our students experience to the digital domains in which they operate. This, I think, will help us in developing our best practice as pedagogues. As a student and newbie to teaching, I will rely on Google classroom and other familiar media, like YouTube, to teach content. But ultimately, I endeavor to learn more, and as much as possible, of the many new technologies that are becoming widely available to students and senior educators alike.
When I changed my major to Secondary Ed/English (the third time I changed my major), I was amazed by the new technology that was Google classroom. Before I entered SED 406, I had no idea that Google docs and all of Google's other wonderful software programs, like Google slides and Google forms, even existed! I had always loved the implementation of digital media in the classroom in my later high school experience, from documentaries on YouTube to Khan Academy, but I feel that with these programs offered by Google and the fact that most schools now have WiFi, the sky is the limit when implementing technology in the classroom.And in my fieldwork experience, both in SED 407 and Practicum, I see a whole world of difference in the pedagogical practices that I was exposed to in high school. Gone seem the days of writing essays by hand and keeping binders full of handouts; now most students are only a few clicks away from accessing all the content of their courses. Moreover, students seem to be very receptive to the use of technology such as Google software, Kahoot, Prezi presentations, and whatever other wonderful programs that their teachers may find, use, and implement in the classroom. This is because these students are growing up in what I think is a digital renaissance, for they are maturing and learning in an era where technological advancement is happening at a faster rate than it ever has in human history. Thus, I think that as educators, we must not only realize that, we must capitalize upon it to reach as many student learners as possible.
To do so, I think it is essential to keep up with the times, as it were. I am always learning new things in my fieldwork experience, but I also feel it is important to do research and expand one's creative limits with the use of technology to reach as many student learners as possible. Many teachers that I have witnessed, for example, even use social media in the classroom in positive educational ways, such as the use of Bitmoji to reach students on a level of interaction they are familiar with, and using Twitter to post about content related to the class. These observations have kindled in me an understanding that we as educators must be flexible in many ways, from understanding the emotional domains our students experience to the digital domains in which they operate. This, I think, will help us in developing our best practice as pedagogues. As a student and newbie to teaching, I will rely on Google classroom and other familiar media, like YouTube, to teach content. But ultimately, I endeavor to learn more, and as much as possible, of the many new technologies that are becoming widely available to students and senior educators alike.
Oh my gosh, I almost forgot about ethernet cables!!! What a throwback! Now that you mention it, I definitely Saw them at least in my freshman year of high school! I remember when I saw my first smartboard. I didn't like it because I couldn't take notes as the teacher was writing because they would be blocking the projector. I thought they were going to become super popular and that they were incredibly futuristic. The future is now, after all. However, when I got to college they were apparently already obsolete since professors would never use them and even when I would go to my observations for my ed classes, teachers just wouldn't use them; they'd collect dust in the corner.
ReplyDeleteHi James,
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud when you said gone are the days of binders a tons of papers--you are so right! I remember being in high school and everything, like everything, was hard copy and we did almost all of our writing in paper. I don't even remember going to a computer lab to type my paper; we were expected to write out our papers at home. Anyway, you are right about the reliance on computers and internet platforms. Which, I really think is great. I think I was a little resistant to the idea of working with technology in the classroom--silly because I really don't have a choice so HA--but now I feel much more comfortable with it. Things like Google Classroom and Khan academy, which you mentioned above, are really great and act as supports for teachers and students.
Great blog!
James, I don't think my school had WiFi until around my freshman or sophomore year of high school, and it constantly crashed, so we didn't even really use the internet too often! You're certainly right about this generation of students living in the digital renaissance because they are growing and learning in an environment that is filled with new technology. One of my personal goals, like yours, is to keep up with technology and create ways to reach my students. You brought up a really good suggestion about the use of Bitmojis, because my middle school kids LOVE that! I also like that while you recognize that using YouTube for videos is an awesome source, you still want to learn more about technology and that will make you such a flexible and open-minded teacher!
ReplyDeleteJames, I enjoyed reading your blog post, and can relate, regarding the lack of technology when we first began our college careers. I too have learned a wealth of knowledge about Google Classroom and other helpful technical tools during my last couple of SED courses, such as Prezi, Story Board, and Kahoot, all of which I feel help educators and students to be on the same page and to incorporate some fun and interactive learning into the school day. I agree that educators should be incorporating lessons regarding social media in the ELA curriculum. Not only is this topic super relevant to our students' lives, (and ours!) but there are so many possibilities for lesson plans and interactive learning with regards to social media. Did you by chance get to observe a lesson at NPHS called "Post Secret?" If not, I would recommend looking it up- it will bring a tear to your eye, as well as spark some wonderful lesson planning opportunities surrounding social media and technology in general.
ReplyDelete