Erins AT1 Blog
Teacher's fear of change
The driving question: Risks to self and others in the digital environment. How has digital technology impacted us as teachers and our work environments?
Reporting
Too often digital technologies are referred to as ‘tools’ used for teaching; however, it provides a much wider scope for teaching practice with unlimited potential for improving student learning outcomes with easy access to updated literature and engaging and interactive learning content (Couch & Towne, 2018). Studies have shown worldwide that schools embracing digital technologies as part of their curriculum requirements aim to foster and develop student’s problem-solving skills, logical and critical thinking skills, creativity, personal development, communication, and analytical skills (Bocconi et al., 2022). Conversely, other schools have adopted different approaches to technology only allowing students to use designated computer labs due to fears of classroom distractions (Anderson, 2016). Some schools have taken it further by removing all technology from classrooms and getting students to hand write assignments until year 10 in an effort to foster class communications as a means for learning to shape well-rounded adults with life skills (Anderson, 2016). This highlights the biggest challenge for teachers, which is the fear of change, to rewire the education system and learn to embrace digital technologies as a way of creating learning experiences that cater to today’s learners (Couch & Towne, 2018).
Responding
I agree that educators must embrace digital technologies to meet the needs of students, however it should be used to enhance student learning not replace the role of the teacher. Teachers must have adequate understanding and training of the digital technologies to support students in their learning and use it effectively to create innovative and engaging lessons for students thereby mitigating any distracted behaviours within the classroom whilst still providing the space for class discussions. I support the inclusion of developing critical skills such as communication skills and handwriting which are important life skills and needed in the workforce (Anderson, 2016). However, with the rapid evolution of digital technologies I believe that it is important to balance the critical literacy skills with digital literacy and programming, or risk getting left behind (Bocconi et al., 2022). Digital technologies are not something to be feared, teachers must embrace the new challenges for the future of education, to adapt to the needs of students and prepare them for the future (Couch & Towne, 2018).
Relating
In my practical experience placements students experienced technology to support their learning, and provide a greater ability for the teacher to differentiate the learning materials for diverse learners. The school ensured there was enough laptops for each student in lessons, however laptops were not used in every subject reinforcing the importance of balancing critical literacy skills with digital literacy. The teachers were trained in the online applications during professional developments to support them in feeling confident to embrace these programs and implement them in the classroom to better support students. To support teachers in facing the challenges associated with digital technologies in the curriculum and combatting the fear of change there must be more support provided to educators in order to benefit students learning and engagement.
Reasoning
Calling digital technologies, a ‘tool’ for teaching students is outdated and evidence of the expansive and rapidly changing field of teaching (Couch & Towne, 2018). A need to update the education system to balance critical and digital literacy skills across the entire curriculum is a necessity to create well-rounded students proficient in demonstrating logical and critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, creativity and thus effective communicators (Bocconi et al., 2022). If educators are adequately supported in understanding and implementing digital technologies the fear of new and innovative ways of delivering the content will be less daunting thus eradicating the fear surrounding digital technologies (Anderson, 2016).
Reconstructing
As a pre-service teacher my aim is to embrace digital technologies in my teaching practices across all curriculum areas to benefit the diverse learning needs of student’s. The implementation of digital technologies within the classroom will be done safely and ethically to ensure optimal engagement with the content and mitigate any distractions that digital technologies may have on students learning without diminishing my role as the teacher. Most importantly I will conquer the challenges of learning new innovative ways of teaching without fear, because the benefits of embracing digital technologies far outweigh the negative aspects on student learning for future benefit.
References
Anderson, S. (2016). Top school bans laptops because they are ‘distracting’ students. Mammamia. https://www.mamamia.com.au/sydney-grammar-bans-computers/
Bocconi, S., Chioccariello, A., Kampylis, P., Dagiene, V., Wastiau, P., Engelhardt, K., Earp, J., Horvath, M., Jasute, E., Malagoli, C., Masiulionyte-Dagiene, V., & Stupuriene, G. (2022). Reviewing computational thinking in compulsory education. Joint Research Centre publications.
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC128347
Couch, J. D., & Towne, J. (2018). Rewiring education: how technology will help unlock every student’s potential. BenBella Books, Inc.
Star: Very well done Erin! You have made many great links to the unit content and it was super engaging as a reader. You provided many insightful views into how the education system can change their views and approaches to technology. You followed the Gibbs' reflective cycle and applied it well in your personal reflection which again draws to many links in the criteria.
Star: I thought the blog sight was super easy to navigate and look exceptionally visually pleasing. I thought the pictures were appropriate and overall was super user friendly.
Wish: The other of possible improvement is checking APA7 in text citation, in particular, when referencing with “& et al.”. It is important to include the “&” symbol between the author’s last name and the “et al.”. Apart from the very minor changes that can be made to improve the standard flow of the text, it is an exceptionally great blog sight!