My mindset in regards to technology, while as passionate as ever, has expanded dramatically over the course of this subject. With my background in Early Childhood Education, I began to make connections from the videos and readings on 21st-century learning (John Seely Brown, still an awe-inspiring favorite) to Play-based curriculum methods. One such method is the teacher in the role of a coach or a facilitator of play (Frances Hanline, 2010). Starkey (2011) also mentions the moving away from “teacher talk” to the role of coach so the teacher is readily available to help aid students in their inquiry processes. I agree that this idea could be maintained in digital environments to foster problem-solving, adaptiveness and a range of other skills our current curriculum, standards, standardized-testing and programs lack in.
Currently, it is a matter of achievement vs relevance (Perkins 2014) in the way that education looks today, even though there is and will continue to be a dramatic change to the information environment through digital technologies and the direct impact this has on education.
As I mentioned in the Scholarly Book Review, current curriculum standards and standardized testing do not serve students or teachers well enough. Gardner (2006) argues that authorities on testing believe that the tests show fundamental competencies. Competencies that are achievement based and may not even be relevant in the 21st-century learning environment.
Image: A great visual on the issue with one-size-fits-all standardized testing.
It is concerning that while our learning environment is changing rapidly there is not a lot of concern to keep up with it. It is unrealistic to say that teachers alone can find the balance of curriculum, meaningful technology integration and teaching lifeworthy learning for each child as an individual. Policy, standards and the curriculum itself needs to change to become more about the process and relevance to the context rather than products of learning.
Video: The RSA (2010) by Sir Ken Robinson explores a multitude of issues relative to the 21st century and its young learners.
While some of the large restrictions on education today stem from the aforementioned it is still up to the individual teacher’s mindset to shift. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide how to live in these fluid environments (Abelson et al., 2008). Finally, Littlejohn and Hood (2017) summarize that it is up to the individual teacher, not the technology, to spark change.
Over the course of this subject, I’ve become more aware of my use and integration of technology in my classroom and even in my personal life. In the classroom I try and utilize the technology I have to incorporate collaborative learning in and promote those higher order thinking skills that we see in the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy, I can still find better ways of getting my students to reflect and create even more with less teacher direction. I have been trying ‘flipped classroom’ characteristics mentioned by Wheeler (2014). I reflect that I still need to find my feet in terms of how much help I am giving in these types of scenarios. How can I become a better “teacher-coach” for 21st-century learners?
Personally, I notice that I am more aware of small changes that may occur in websites that I use or social media tools. I notice now they are constantly changing algorithms and dashboards for more user-friendliness in the competitive environment of being the must-have social media tool of the world. I think I’m hyper-aware of things I read on user-generated content sites and 2.0 platforms that may not be reputable or need further investigation before they’re shared. I am also more aware of the time I spend on these tools and whether this is beneficial to me or a waste of time. I reflect on the small amount of time these changes occur in and how this will affect young learners in their future, especially in regards to digital literacy.
Image: Powerful quote from Gary Vaynerchuck relating to time and rapid expansion of social media.
Please visit my Digital Essay for more on the use of social media for educators and how and why we should leverage these tools.
Finally, I can agree that we really are living in the Fourth Revolution (Floridi, 2016). My understanding of myself has changed through my interactions and networks with others through digital landscapes.
References
Abelson, H., Ledeen, K., & Lewis, H. (2008). Blown to bits: Your life, liberty, and happiness after the digital explosion. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley.
Connected Learning Alliance. (2012, September 18). The Global One Room Schoolhouse: John Seely Brown (Highlights from JSB’s Keynote at DML2012) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiGabUBQEnM&feature=you
Floridi, L. (2016, December 20). “The fourth revolution”- Q&A [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omPHiNJUubI
Frances Hanline, M. (2010). Developing a preschool play-based curriculum. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 46(3), 289-305. Retrieved from https://doi-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/10.1080/103491299100515
Gardner, H. (2006). Multiple Intelligences (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Basic Books.
Littlejohn, A., & Hood, N. (2017). How educators build knowledge and expand their practice: The case of open education resources. British Journal of Educational Technology, 48(2), 499–510. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12438
Perkins, D. (2014). Future wise: Educating our children for a changing world. CA: John Wiley & Sons.
Starkey, L. (2011). Evaluating learning in the 21st century: A digital age learning matrix. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 20(1), 19-39. doi: 10.1080/1475939X.2011.554021
The RSA. (2010, October 14). RSA ANIMATE: Changing Education Paradigms [Video file]. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U
Wheeler, S. (2014, March 25). Flipping the teacher [Blog post]. Retrieved from http://www.steve-wheeler.co.uk/2014/03/flipping-teacher.html?view=classic
very interesting Kirsten, enjoyed reading your blog and very happy to see teachers with this point of view, that consciously aware that you cannot have one education system and design for all, and that you are trying to have collaborative classrooms.
I can really connect with what you say about changing as a mum and how we actually change as our kids go through different stages, right? its amazing, challenging as well