Reflections

Reflection
Reflecting on the past weeks in this course, I am satisfied that incorporating technology into the learning process is possible and is a necessity. The course transformed my now old perception of technology as a distraction to the learning process. The problem was of a digital immigrant teacher that was ignorant of the power of the web 2.0 (Prensky, 2001).
In the course, I had the privilege of collaborating with professional colleagues through blogging. I was intimidated with web resources and research on the importance, implications and ways of using technology to enhance learning. I subscribed to the feeds of my classmates and some educational research websites like Tech & Learn, Partnership in learning 21st century skill among others. I explored the rich resources by various institutions that provide information that a student can use as a source of information. Learning is both for the teacher and student in the 21st century workplace. I was exposed to learning experiences like research findings, articles that underscore the importance and implication of the digital disconnect between the student and instructional process (Bull, 2004). I also had the opportunity of practicing the use of some 21st century skills like collaboration with the wiki, communication with podcast.
The course brought the awareness that my role as a teacher is one of facilitating and assessing learning (Thornburg, 2008). It also provides ways to guide my students to acquire and use the requisite 21st century skills in preparing for the workforce of the future. This implies that my instructional procedure must incorporate technology tools to allow the student acquire and practice the web 2.0 tools for learning rather than social networking only (Thornburg, 2004). Most of our students are digital natives so incorporating the digital language in learning increases motivation and engagement which is needed for effective learning process.
In order to expand my knowledge, I am going to continue collaborating with colleagues through blogging, subscribing to feeds, seminars as well as sharing my experiences (Nussbaum-Beach, 2008). I am also going to commit to lifelong learning
In my classroom, I am going to increase the frequency of the use of technology so that students get to express themselves and take control of their own learning as well as remove the classroom boundary to learning. They get to express their knowledge in the way they understand and that conform to their learning style (Prensky, 2001). I am also going to liaise with the instructional technology personnel to help in getting the outmost form of technological tools available. I will create an environment for learning from one another, other teachers using the web.
In conclusion this course has provided me with the necessary skills to teach content using 21st century skills with content in science using 21st century tools.

Resources
Bull, G., & Bull, G. (2004). The digital disconnect: A recent pew study. Learning and Leading with Technology, 31(4), 28–31
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008a). Program #17: Transforming the classroom with technology: Part 1 [Motion Picture]. In Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.
Nussbaum-Beach, S. (2008). No limits. Technology & Learning, 28(7), 14–18.
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5)
Thornburg, D. (2004). Technology and education: Expectations, not options. (Executive Briefing No. 401). Retrieved from http://www.tcpdpodcast.org/briefings/expectations.pdf
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008b). Program 11. Skills for the 21st Century [Motion Picture]. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society. Baltimore: Author.

podcast

http://flosi.podbean.com/

podcast

http://flosi.podbean.com/

Hope for 21st century skills

Reading through the article “The partnership for 21st century skills”, was refreshing to me because of the “scary” article “The world is flat”, it is refreshing to know that people are aware and are trying to do something about the digital disconnect.
My surprise is the wide range of support the partnership has been able to garner from the federal to state to local business educational and even parents and families. I would expect that with that wide range of support, all teachers should have known about its existence and mobilized it for its support. I think more work needs to be done in getting every teacher to know, appreciate the need, support and implement the partnership vision.
The implication for my students is probably that the days of “double lives” are over. The technology saturated life outside the school can be merged with that inside the school. School and its knowledge/skill will become more relevant and transferable. It is then we can hope that the knowledge of core subject as is being taught will not be intrusion from the past but rather as skill necessary for the future. Kids will be prepared to live and work and over the challenges of 21st century.

Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/images/stories/otherdocs/p21up_Report.pdf

Blogging as I see it

I had used blogging a few times in the past but never appreciated it as a powerful teaching tool until now. Since going through this class, I have come to lose my skepticism on the effectiveness of blogging as a teaching tool. I can see in it, a potential of helping teachers in the nearest future.

Science lesson

One way of using blog in my classroom is to give the students a list of objectives and expectations posted on the web blog and ask them to go and research using resources. My expectation can be a project, problem solving. A rubric of the learning outcome will also be posted to guide the students learning.
This activity will enable the students to take ownership of their learning. It gives them a feeling of independence and sense of achievement while learning from their peers which may even be non group members. It also gives them opportunity to practice the use of web.
The grade level is 09, science. A blog will be a good instructional tool in this context because it motivates and increases student engagement. it exposes the students to a wide source of knowledge and promote deep thinking.

Teaching today

Teaching today is becoming more challenging than it was years ago. The volume of new technology that is churned into the web everyday is inundating to say the least. The teacher is expected to change the practice of teaching to accommodate all these changes. Changes however is not so easy for several reasons:
One, The nature of man is reluctant to change. secondly, Educational administrators that are demanding a change from teachers are not backing up request with necessary finance and training. The few circumstances that the technology is available are constrained by the rigid curriculum. In it all, teachers are not necessarily the best paid around but more demands are being made on them. This of course puts a stress on teachers. What the future holds for teachers in all this is a food for thought. The students that we are to teach are already estranged as their hearts have been sold to emerging technology.