Just the tip of the ice burg
Just the tip of the ice burg
Learning in the Digital Age
- Teacher-Centered vs. Student-Centered
- Communicating and Collaborating
- Developing Digital Citizens
Communicating
and
Collaboration
Teacher Centered
vs.
Student Centered
Teacher Centered
Many, if not all of us grew up learning in traditional "Teacher Centered" environments. It is what we are used to and therefore it seems natural. The idea of a teacher expounding knowledge with the expectation that their students will absorb that knowledge. From a student’s perspective I found this to be hit or miss for me. Many factors played into the efficacy of this method. Not the least of which was the motivation of the teacher. If he or she was not passionate about the subject matter that lack of interest and enthusiasm would be reflected in the students. Another factor is the students themselves. Many of us learn in different ways and really none of them are wrong. Some of us are independent thinkers, seeking out new information, challenging ourselves. Some are better at following direction, a clear path leading to a well-defined destination. I truly believe that the bulk of us fall in the spectrum in between.
For those of us that grew up before the internet this was a much different concept. Today we have the capability to discuss and implement projects and ideas real time. For students today this is a part of their daily life and many don't even realize it. With all of the social networking options in the palm of their hands it is only natural to utilize these tools to keep them engaged. As a current online student this is my ninth class that I have taken online. Some classes have been more interactive than others; however, each have taught me a new way to utilize technology in the process of education. Through collaborative projects, whether they were via Google Drive, Drop Box, or any of the other cloud based tools, working together via the internet is vital in today's world. Students will find it to be second nature to collaborate via the web and in my personal experience the product of those collaborations tended to be just as good as in person efforts. Working together, knowing that the outcome depends on each of you tends to add greater weight to your effort. If we as educators can provide a curriculum that utilizes the tools (or at least similar tools) they are using to socialize and stay connected then our students will be better prepared for the future.
Teacher Centered
vs.
Student Centered
Student Centered
The Student Centered method places much of the onus on the students themselves. The idea is to challenge them to ask questions and seek answers on their own. The teacher offers tasks and scenarios that the students must identify and decipher what is being asked of them and work toward the desired outcome. This designed to build their problem solving skills and give them greater understanding of the entire process with little guidance from the teacher. The intention is to go far beyond simple memorization into in depth real world understanding.
Developing Digital Citizens
The internet offers countless ways to interact with one another, often with complete anonymity. Too often people use this to their own advantage and act in ways that they would not if they were actually interacting face to face. As educators we need to stress the importance of maintaining an ethical presence on the web. It is not only important to ensure that they understand copyright laws and plagiarism, we also need to stress that the people on the receiving end of their interaction are not just screen names but people with feeling's. I am firm believer in the old adage, if you can't say something nice then don't say anything. It is also very important to make it clear to our students that EVERYTHING that goes out into the internet is there forever. What will your future employers think of your behavior?
We're all in this together so let's guide our students to ensure that they engage others respectfully and in a positive manner.
Chapter 3
References:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Teacher Centered Approach for Educational Psychology. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Student-Centered Instructional Strategies. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Google Drive - Cloud Storage & File Backup for Photos, Docs & More. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
Dropbox. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2015.
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