"As technology has become incorporated into teaching and learning, much research has focused on the efficacy of its use, and its ability to improve learning outcomes" (Adlington & Harvey, 2010).
There have been ongoing studies about technology in the classroom. This study considers the engaging factor of technology and demonstrates the importance of teaching the proper procedures to use technology for learning. Technology is a part of life that should be utilized in schools to teach students the needed digital media literacy skills to be knowledgeable and active citizens. Students must have access to the technical and digital skills necessary for success in the global economy and learn at a young age the critical procedures of researching information and the proper use that technology entails.
Below is a link to a video involving a Website Validation Lesson for younger students. This technology project promotes behavioral, cognitive, and emotional student engagement.
Using Critical Thinking to Find Trustworthy WebsitesBelow is a link to an article about the ongoing debate of technology in schools and a few quotes I found interesting in regards to the title.
The problem with technology in schools
By Alfonzo Porter, The Washington Post, Posted at 11:10 AM ET, 01/28/2013
"Quick access to information can lead to a lack of critical thinking about sources and quality of information, as well as an inability to “mine for data.”"
"Today students’ idea of learning about a topic is to believe what they read in online."
"Many education reformers tend to look to technology to solve some of the challenges that face our public schools. From online education to interactive games, the emphasis on exploring technological forms of pedagogy to raise student scores has generated a number of interesting projects and studies."
"The issues engendered by the reality of education technology demand that schools leap ahead in developing a “Digital Citizenship” curriculum to appropriately guide students beginning from kindergarten on technology’ usage."
1. How might your citizen journalism project resemble a technology rich project?
My citizen journalism resembles a technology rich project because it requires students to use the Internet for research, digital media literacy skills to validate online information, Google Form to create a survey, Moviemaker to create a digital story, along with recording and documenting observations and interviews with various digital tools.
2. What did you learn about successful implementation of technology rich projects?
Successful implementation of technology rich projects can promote behaviorally, cognitively and emotionally engaged students.
Adlington, Rachel & Harvey, Hilary (2010), Engaging young learners: The multi-faceted and changeable nature of student engagement in technology-rich learning projects, Retrieved from http://acec2010.acce.edu.au/sites/acec2010.info/files/proposal/172/acec2010engagingyounglearners.pdf
Porter, Alfonzo, (2013), The Washington Post, The Problem with Technology in Schools, Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/the-problem-with-technology-in-schools/2013/01/28/cf13dc6c-6963-11e2-ada3-d86a4806d5ee_blog.html
Koch, Emily; Common Sense Media, Using Critical Thinking to Find Trustworthy Websites, Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/videos/using-critical-thinking-find-trustworthy-websites
The quotes that you included in you post are very interesting. A lot of those points are true, but should be worked on. For instance, the quote about students believing what the read online- that is a problem and we as educators can work to fix it.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a great project planned. I would Imagine that Photostory will cause some serious interaction between students.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with the author of the Washington Post article. Unfortunately, some educators have disregarded technology claiming that it dumbs kids down rather than to teach them how to use the tools to critical think.
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