After reading Prensky’s articles, I am pretty sure that I qualify as a digital native. Prensky notes that natives “represent the first generations to grow up with this new technology.” I might not fit his exact definition, because I did not have had a cell phone when I was born. Or even in elementary school. I was an adolescent during the big emergence of cell phones. Also during my adolescence, I built a webpage, by teaching myself some basic HTML, and I also built a few of my own computers. Before starting at Concordia, I worked at a sign company and constantly used graphic design programs (Photoshop, Illustrator) and I think this also enhances my digital resume.
Also I think I might qualify as a “native” because I think I have a “hypertext mind”. I’m always multitasking with my computer, with multiple windows open. I leap around from one thing to another. I think I have a unique perspective because I have experience a pre-digital classroom and a digital one. I believe this perspective will allow me to become a very effective teacher in a modern classroom.
I know that during my high school experience, the curriculum did offer lots of chances to incorporate new technology. I remember taking an AP level computer programming class and my school was only one of the few schools in the area that offered that class. My teachers utilized overhead projectors for lecture, but other than that; I cannot remember other lessons with technology. When I visit the school website now, I see that they have implemented a student-run television channel that plays in the classrooms. I certainly wish something like that was around when I was a student; it could have been really fun.
In college, I definitely experienced more technology in the classroom. Professors used PowerPoint presentations, and ELMO projectors. Every college classroom had a full audio/video capabilities built in; it wasn’t a cart that had to be ordered. However, I think that the professors that used all this technology still put very little effort into embracing the technology. The PowerPoint demonstrations were quite boring with just basically lecture notes in bullet points. The only use for that method might be just to save time of writing things on the board. I wish my professors had mixed up their instruction a little bit.
In my opinion, the articles did not change my mind about anything in regards to technology. I am well aware of the changing climate of the classroom and planned to embrace all the new gadgets once I get there. Before we started the class, I was thinking of different ways to reach various learners and one idea I thought about was creating podcasts for students to download. Another fun idea might be creating a classroom or some sort of learning environment in Second Life. With more and more games becoming online community oriented, I think some instruction in a virtual world setting might be useful. Also, I might be able to engage those students who, Prensky noted, “are used to this other life.” I think the only downfall to all the technology tools is the time that it all requires. I think it’ll be important to me to isolate the tech pieces that will work for my class, and master them so I can use it efficiently and effectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment