As part of topic 1 for ELT523 we were asked to Think, Reflect and Discuss the following questions

What is your definition of a ‘Digital Learning Environment’? Provide examples from your school and/or working/professional life to support this.

What are some of the changes created by our digital lifestyle that you need to be aware of as an educator?

What has been the impact of social networking on teaching and learning?

A Digital Learning Environment is technology based learning environment.  One that encompass digital devices, the online world and software / applications that can be used to educate and learn. 

As part of my professional life (non-teaching) I am a member of Linked In, I have a Twitter and Facebook account that connects me to like-minded professionals and am on several mailing lists that provide me access to digital content that I can use in my working life or further my understanding on my area of expertise.

Similarly s part of my teaching life / university student life I have a Twitter and Facebook account that connects me to other educators, I am on several mailing lists that provide me access to digital content that I can use in my classroom or further my understanding on my area of expertise.  I am also beginning to collect numerous websites, software suggestions and applications that I can look into further to determine if they are useful for me to expand my knowledge (such as being part of Facebook groups) or useful in my classroom to assist my learning programme with my students (such as being  a member of Newsela).

With my school I am just beginning to understand and utilise a Digital Learning Environment with my students. This is something that is not necessarily determined whole school at the moment, but rather by individual teachers.

As an educator, I need to be aware of the digital lifestyle of my students, the policy on digital learning of my school and department and how the digital age impacts on my classroom.

We regularly hear the term ‘digital native’ but just as English speakers learn English at school we need to guide our ‘digital natives’ in the digital world.  Students today have access (potentially) to a plethora of information but may not know what to do with it or how to navigate it effectively.  With everything at the touch of a button on a smart phone or laptop, we need to not only help our students access information, but give them the skills to understand the complexities of living in a digital world.  Students will use digital technology, it is what their reality is, as educators we have to harness this interest and use it to develop smart, innovative, critical thinkers who can solve problems and create a better world.

Social Networking has had both positive and negative effect on teaching and learning.  As teachers ban mobile phones in classrooms as students are tweeting rather than paying attention, we also understand the power of connecting that social networking provides.

As an educator I can now connect with literally thousands of other teachers and educators around the world and gain ideas and gather knowledge using applications like Twitter and Facebook.  I can share my thoughts while reading about what others are doing in my field.  Students can also do the same, if we allow and encourage them to.  My social networking averse son (a rare teen I know) recently set up a Facebook page with his fellow Maths Extension students as a place to discuss problems / ideas / strategies.  As educators we can ‘allow’ our students to connect with others throughout the world  in the classroom in a similar fashion.  They can create work that can be share with the world.

Image Source: Digital Dimensions – http://digitaldimensions.wikispaces.com/Introduction+-+Digital+Learning+Environment?responseToken=499ef7d29c1b6a70fdb831aa7f8c3f79