Monday, 9 December 2013
How technology has changed the way we learn
For centuries the learning experience has hardly changed; if you moved a tutor from one century to another, they would probably cope with little change. However, if you moved someone from at least forty years ago to present day, then the experience would be worlds apart. In thirty years the whole learning style has evolved; with the introduction of ICT the blackboard and chalk has been retired and replaced by interactive white boards with mobile devices. Technology has expanded to learning to the masses; a tutor can potentially have an interactive class of infinite amount. The World Wide Web allows instant access to resource material that is in depth and broad. Modern day learners tend to rely on the internet, could this potentially have a negative affect? An exasperated French teacher keeps telling her pupils “Google cannot speak French; it hasn’t been to school and learnt!” (Jones, 2013), the use of translators cannot deduce meaning to a word, resulting in a nonsensical sentence.
Technology has radicalised the way we learn and teach. We constantly have to adapt to advancements and keeping current is now the big consideration. We are where we are now with technology but where will it lead us in another thirty years...
A winter warmer!
Hopefully you will get the idea of my seven page story!?
A winter story! from wilddt
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Useful resource.
I found another interesting website with links to teacher websites and resources that can be of use. "Every single teacher is concerned about his/ her teaching practices and the skills involved in this process. How many times have you wondered about a better way to teach the same lesson you have delivered to an eariler class? How often have you used technology to engage your students and improve their learning ? These are some recurring questions we keep regurgitating each time our teaching skills are put to the test" A quote from the website.
Please click on the picture for link!
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Barriers to the effective use of technology in education.
“Pupils
should be given opportunities to apply and develop their ICT capability through
the use of ICT tools to support their learning in all subjects”(ICT curriculum, 2012) Is the first line
from the government’s ICT curriculum, it clearly states their view in
supporting the use of ICT teaching and learning to current and future pupils. There are a few barriers that I would like to
discuss:-
1.
Teachers – A fundamental part of the process and
how adaptable to change are they.
2.
Cost – How cost effective is ICT?
3.
Disadvantages.
Teachers
Transformational leadership is how I see a good leader and
this can also be applied to a teacher/lecture/instructor/coach. How many “fossils “do we see and know scared
or intimidated by change. Evolving and
educating the teacher is probably the main priority, a review from The National
Commission on Education in 1993 had the foresight to realise the future in
technology. “Teachers...need training and support to adapt successfully to
flexible learning, managing independent learning, involving people in the
community and making full use of advanced technology.” (Education, 1993)
Cost
Cost is not just for the initial outlay of equipment; but
the constant updating of technology and software to coincide with evolving
products and resources. A certain amount
of the cost has to be set aside for the training of the people delivering the academic
material, and again, this is a constant outlay due to change of staff and
technology etc.
Disadvantages
Do we lose the interaction and the chance to engage with the
students where technology supplies for the masses? The learning environment would change from a
personal classroom relationship with peers and tutors to a cyber based
relationship losing the basic communication and socialisation skills humans
cherish.
These are in my opinion some of the barriers that could be faced with technology in education, they may seem bias and I am sure there are many more. I have not discussed students and their barriers, particularly in further education as there is possibly an age and ICT confidence issue. But as harsh as this seems, they can overcome their issues and reluctance and I am testimony to that! I have also not covered the positives or the
advantages...maybe another day?
Education, N. C. (1993). Learning to succeed.
London: Heinemann.
ICT curriculum. (2012, 02 12). Retrieved 12 03, 2013, from Department
for Education:
http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/curriculum/a00199693/use-of-ict
Monday, 2 December 2013
The value of mobile technology in teaching and learning.
We now live in society that seems to need and demand instant
access to information (and everything else!).
Gone are the days of when i was in school having an hour a week playing
on a BBC computer and not having a clue what i was doing, in fact nothing much
has changed for me in over 25 years!
With the introduction of
the World Wide Web, students could access data from the comfort of a school
computer suite or a personal computer at home.
Technology has now moved on and devices are smaller and more powerful than
the ever (and continually evolving!), allowing an individual instantaneous access
anywhere. Mike Britland states “The
best teachers that I have seen using technology to aid independent learning are
the ones who have embraced the power that is already in the pockets of
students.” (Britland, 2013) We all like our creature comforts, so for a
younger student the chance to interact on their course using their personal
device might actually promote an increase in interest. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization have
embraced the mobile technology and can fully see the potential and benefits to
learners, within their policy and guidelines they write “Learning can unfold in a variety of
ways: people can use mobile devices to access educational resources, connect
with others, or create content, both inside and outside classrooms.” (Kraut, 2013) Mobile Technology is a way a multitude of
learners can gain access throughout the world to study through a relatively cheap
source.
Recourses:
Britland, M. (2013). How has technology transformed
the role of a teacher? Professional developement , 1.
Kraut, R. (2013). Policy
guidelines. Retrieved 12 01, 2013, from United Nations:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002196/219641E.pdf
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