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Pedagogy before Technology
I am no stranger to technology and believe me when I say I have plenty more to both learn and teach, but times sure have changed! I often humor my 11yr old daughter when I mention how I was a senior in high school when cell phones were still new and t9 text messaging was all the rage, and how I still say headphones instead of airpods! Technology is ever changing and even more advanced since I first entered the classroom 9 years ago!
I became a teacher a little late in the game in comparison to all my friends who already had about 10 years under their belt. I was in my early 30s facing a group of high school juniors. All my students had cell phones. Prior to covid, my district was not a 1:1 technology campus the way it is currently. I recall escorting them to a computer lab once, so I could teach them how to log into and add googleclassroom (as it was a little different back then). Shortly thereafter, a student raised her hand and proceeded to take over showing everyone in class how to download it to their phones for easier access. This was a humbling experience for me as an educator because it showed me how much my students already knew and how I too allowed her to teach me so I could demonstrate to my other classes!
Perhaps their views on technology weren’t too different from mine. I feel if someone is open to change and willing to learn, they can. This aspect can be for both the student and the educator, my own experience mentioned above as proof. I also feel that there is a time and place for phones at school and it can also depend on the grade level! However there are some slight differences in generational comparisons. Some differences are: numerous districts are now 1:1 post covid, there are embedded spellcheck tools and online dictionaries, we’ve gone from pin drives to automatic google save drives, audio/e-book read alouds in class, the use of interactive smart boards, health apps on smart watches, touch screen devices, cell phones essentially being mini computers, social media of various platforms, even STAAR testing is now completely online instead of on paper, and I hear AI will soon be taking over in grading some of these state issued exams too!
As I was reading and exploring The First Marist College Mindset List Released, I was blown away by various items listed. Number one states, “Like Pearl Harbor for their grandparents, and the Kennedy assassination for their parents, 9/11 is a historical event” (Marist, 2019). It’s true that “we will never forget”, I was a sophomore in high school when this occurred. My first year in the classroom, one of my students asked if I was “alive” during that time. They were shocked when I said I was about their age, and I remember I too was surprised to learn that they were only about 3 years old when this tragedy occurred! Right before 9/11, I had just returned from a trip to Europe, therefore, number twelve may also tie in as it states, “Richard Reid’s explosive footwear at 30,000 feet, passengers have always had to take off their shoes to slide through security on the ground” (Marist, 2019). I can say that TSA was not as strict as it is now, understandably so.
Upon reading Blooms Digital Taxonomy, I can see how a revision was necessary to keep up with all the technological expansions. In the education field, higher order thinking needs to stay as relevant and up to par as possible. I do agree that it was time for it to be more inclusive to the digital realm in hopes to still be a challenge for most (Churches, 2007). Technology, if used the correct way in the classroom, can be beneficial. This would need to be modeled properly by certified educators. For example, in a research unit, a teacher or a librarian would have to conduct a lesson on plagiarism. They would need to show examples of credible sources and what constitute credible websites. If one wants something to be turned in a certain way, our job is to teach it step by step. In doing this, students will learn and adapt to the workload progressively throughout their educational careers. We all learned it at one point, our own experiences lead us to be successful and to pass it on. In some cases, students can abuse a privilege like the internet or be a little less motivated these days because they rely heavily on google. In addition, we also see how number twenty-seven is accurate and states “YouTube has become the video version of Wikipedia” (Marist, 2019). I do consider YouTube to be educational and with proper observation, it can be used in the classroom and out.
All in all, I do feel technology is both a tool for learning and a foundation upon which we build learning. This is simply because it is constantly evolving! If we are willing to learn and be one step ahead, we can conquer anything! There will always be something newer, something better, and something to introduce in the classroom. We can see this in Bloomin Apps across various platforms. The gears that Kathy Schrock showcases make perfect sense, they all work together and build up (Schrock, 2015). The visual created and categorized based off of the revised Blooms Digital Taxonomy is impeccable. Let’s face it, the student is also changing! Every student is different and whether we like it or not, education and educators must differentiate, and adapt as an entirety. A librarian’s job will always be at the forefront of education.
References
Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy
http://burtonslifelearning.
https://www.commonsense.org/
Churches, A. (2007). Edorigami, Bloom’s taxonomy and digital approaches.
http://edorigami.wikispaces.
Lee, J. Y.-J., Lynn, V., Nief, R., Schaffer, M., Westberg., & Zurhellen, T. (2019).
The First Marist Mindset List is Released. Marist College. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://www.marist.edu/w/
Schrock, K. (2015). Bloomin' Apps - Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything. Kathy
Schrock's Guide to Everything - Home Page. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from
http://www.schrockguide.net/
K-12 BLUEPRINT
Tools and Resources to Drive Your Technology Initiatives. (n.d.) Clarity Innovations. K-12 BluePrint. Retrieved June 4, 2024, from https://www.k12blueprint.com/
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I have to agree, technology to an extent can be beneficial. Students are still young and need guidance and modeling expectations to students is a perfect way to establish what is expected of them in certain situations, especially digital situations. Even when using tools like YouTube (which I agree with you, can be educational) students need to be taught how to identify if a source is presenting valid, non-biased information. Technology is great, but there is a learning curve, and it is up to us to learn about it and educate others about it!
ReplyDeleteSometimes I too forget that they may know more than me technology-wise. My son taught me shortcuts on my iPad when he was two! I also feel that technology is a tool and a foundation. We have to stay up to date on the latest and greatest to allow our students to reach their highest potential.
ReplyDeleteAnabel, we are truly evolving and it is our job to keep up with all the new trends and applications that are coming up so we can equip our students to be prepared to use them responsibly. I agree we have to model it so that students know how to use it, and don't depend on just the internet to get the answers they need. They sometimes just say "Google it", but we really have to also push for some critical thinking skills where I think Blooms plays a huge part of! Awesome post!
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