Developing Lessons and Engaging Students
The generation on students in schools today are very different from the ones a few decades ago. Students lives today are consumed by technology outside the classroom and lack engagement in the classroom without technology. In our textbook it states that one of the main reasons students were dropping out of school was because they felt the lack of engagement in the classroom and got bored easily. Students also said that they were least engaged by teacher lectures and more engaged with group projects and lessons involving technology. I feel that this is information that teachers really need to be listening too. Students are trying to tell teachers what type of lessons and projects will help them focus more in the classroom. Simple technology based writing and design programs, web based learning games, and electronic worksheets are just some ways to incorporate technology in the lessons.
Using Technology to Enhance Teaching
-Instructional Practices
Teachers are easily able to incorporate the use of technology in the classrooms for lessons. One example of this is accessing the Web for lessons involving class discussions, presentations, and simulations. I think this is a great idea to get students more engaged. To begin, the majority of students are visual based learners. By using the web and projecting it onto a white board or smart board students will already feel more alert and engaged. If a student is a tactical learner they might be given an opportunity to operate the smart board or a handheld wireless device. Through using technology in instructional practices, teachers are not only engaging the students but they are also reaching all types of learners.
Digital Divides and Participation Gaps
Unfortunately, computers and digital devices are not provided equally to all schools and districts due to community funding. Some people use this as a large argument for why technology use is not incorporated in the lessons. One of the main concerns of digital divide is for the low-income families that may not be able to afford the latest technologies. However, it is also stated in our textbook that technologies such as computers, internet, and phones have increased in household across the country. The concern is that the families cannot afford the newest technologies such as handheld devices and wireless devices. This however should not affect how technology is used in the classroom. All teachers have access to at least one computer (teachers computer) in the classroom. The teacher should be able to find web pages to display for class discussions. All students also have access to public computers in the school library or in the community library. These group of students are not uninterested in technology in the classroom simply because they do not have access to the latest technologies. These students are also still from the same generation and want and need technology incorporated into the classroom regardless of what they have access to at home.
The digital divide definitely provides some challenges, but it needs to be addressed at some level. All students deserve the opportunity to learn with technology if it is integrated so much in our lessons. Perhaps there needs to be more shared and cooperative learning so that instead of 1-to-1 there is more emphasis on working together as groups/centers with technology as a focal point. The emphasis on BYOD for those who have is great, but maybe that is where resources for tech can then go to those who don't have. It is a dilemma but shouldn't be an excuse for not using technology! :)
ReplyDeleteYou reference the textbook, but there is no resource list - be sure to add! Also, please remember that the expectation is that you will grow to earn each digital badge so the need for an enhancement to the text (i.e., photo, video or even hyperlink) was expected for this second post. Let's see it for the 3rd! :)