Pedagogy before Technology
Life in the 21st century differs greatly from what anyone could have imagined, even 10 to 20 years ago. With changes being made in almost every regard, the one area that has the most noticeable change is technology. Technology from today cannot be compared to technology from even ten years ago. As someone born in 1998 and has seen the changes in technology as time passed, I truly believe that technology is supposed to be used as a tool. However, nowadays, students rely on technology to do even the smallest of tasks, which was unheard of in the past. Students now have technology at the tip of their fingers, as seen with the Mindset List. While technology can be great, it can hinder students. Take, for instance, finding homework help for math online compared to a few years ago to now. Some apps and websites are specifically built to help students understand math problems, but the most significant disconnect happens here. With websites such as Photomath or SymboLab, many students see these math problem-solving websites as a solve-all solution, which it can be. Most of the time, students will see and accept the website's final answer as correct without questioning how the website arrived at the answer. The older population will look at the final answer and the steps to understand how the website arrived at the solution.
As the number of apps and websites like Photomath and the use of AI increases, it is our job to find a way to balance the use of technology in the classroom while teaching students digital citizenship. Despite today’s generation being born into a world of technology, they are not always the most knowledgeable person/people in the room. They still need guidance and to be taught what is acceptable, safe, valid, reliable, and authentic. This teaching cannot and should not be taught all at once; rather, teaching students how to be good digital citizens and how to use specific aspects of technology needs to be taught in small, digestible lessons for students where they are actively engaged learners. These lessons do not always have to be in-depth; they could be as easy as reminding students to double-check their sources or explore options like Canva instead of Microsoft PowerPoint.
Librarians are leaders. As librarians, it will be our job to ensure we are knowledgeable and current with all curriculum changes, including technology. In the post-COVID years, one trend I have seen in the school districts in my area is that they are trying to go digital. Even the Texas Education Agency is pushing for the digital classroom with the STAAR tests being administered online. Learning about new technology programs, resources, and materials will be critical for the 21st-century learner because they are being pushed in that direction. There is a reason that Bloom’s taxonomy is being updated to reflect these changes. If we do not adapt to these changes, we are allowing ourselves and our students to fall behind. Implementing new technology can be scary, but a good tutorial can help foster student engagement and learning. While there is no shortage of places to find new technological resources, it will be up to us to find them and share them with our colleagues.
Citations
Bloomin’ Apps. Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything. (n.d.-a). https://www.schrockguide.net/bloomin-apps.html
Bloom’s digital taxonomy. Common Sense Education. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/blooms-digital-taxonomy
Churches, A. (n.d.). Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy.
The first Marist Mindset List is released. Marist College. (2019, August 21). https://www.marist.edu/w/marist-news-the-first-marist-mindset-list-is-released
How to integrate technology in the classroom. Drexel University - School of Education. (n.d.). https://drexel.edu/soe/resources/student-teaching/advice/how-to-use-technology-in-the-classroom/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20technology%20during,students’%20growth%20in%20the%20classroom.
Toolkits | K-12 blueprint. K-12 Blueprint. (n.d.). https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits
I like how you mentioned that even though students may be familiar with technology, they still need to learn how to navigate it responsibly. It is important for students to be able to recognize whether the information is authentic and relevant. I have students who want to be independent when using the Internet, but I always try to talk with them first about the expectations and goals with each activity.
ReplyDeleteI also mentioned the teaching of digital citizenship, it's so important to take time to teach our students how to safely use the applications being introduced to them and the internet in its self. Karina, I do like how you also brought up the fact that our state is already doing assessment's online. I had a training today in where we talked about how students are having such a hard time writing, and how it correlates to the use of technology. I agree that we have to balance like you mentioned within our teaching. The students should be able to physically write, but also be able to transfer that skill into technology especially because that is the direction our state, and society is moving.
ReplyDeleteI agree that post-Covid education has seen a huge increase in technology usage in schools. I think it's important that we teach students how to learn using technology, as long as they're also learning how to do so in a safe and acceptable way. On the flip side, I worry about the increase in technology and maintaining equity. I think Covid also taught us that teachers are super important and technology cannot teach everything.
ReplyDeleteSo true what you say about finding a good balance with technology use in schools. Sometimes district administrators in my experience have gone a little over board, if will, with how much time is spent using educational technology. I think librarians play an important role in advocating for technological use in the classroom, but not just endorsing an educational program to be "the end all be all." Librarians have a real opportunity to be leaders in digital technology use for learning and having students access higher level thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on finding a good balance with technology use in schools. I like how you mention the importance of teaching the students to navigate using the technology in a safe way because some of them don't know.
ReplyDelete