In the very first module of this subject, we were asked the think about the following questions:
- What is your definition of a ‘Digital Learning Environment’? Can you think of 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?
I think of a digital learning environment as an online space where students go to learn, collaborate, discuss topics submit assignments and receive feedback. I have worked in a variety of schools that use different platforms for this to occur. Some examples include Google classroom, Schoolbox, Canvas and Blackboard.
Teachers need to be aware of the use of these online platforms so that we are giving our students the best opportunities to improve their skills in the digital world. A big change as part of the digital learning environment is the 24/7 accessibility. Teachers need to ensure that the learning materials are available so that students can access them when they want to.
Social networking has had an impact in that students are getting their information from a large range of sources, not just from school. Students need to be taught how to sort the trash from the treasure.