Digital Literacy: E-Learning ideals in the 21st century

Digital Literacy eLearning ideals in the 21 st Century

Digital Literacy: A Definition
The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.
www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/templates/Page____60.aspx

Digital Literacy: Native or Immigrant?
Marc Prensky,
“Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants”
Digital Natives: “native speakers” of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet.
Digital Immigrants: “Those not born into the digital world but have, at some point in their lives, become fascinated by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technology.”

Digital Natives
Used to receiving information really fast
Like to parallel process and multi-task
Prefer graphics before the text
Prefer random access (like hypertext)
Function best when networked
Thrive on instant gratification and frequent rewards
Prefer games to “serious” work

Digital Immigrants
Retain their accent, i.e. their foot in the past
Examples:
Using Internet or other online resources second to books
Reading the manual for a software application rather than assuming the program itself will teach us how to use it
Printing out email
“ Did you get my email” phone call

Native vs Immigrant
The biggest problem facing education today:
“Digital Immigrant instructors, who speak an outdated language (that of the pre-digital age), are struggling to teach a population that speaks an entirely different language.”

“ Smart adult immigrants accept that they don’t know about their new world and take advantage of their kids to help them learn and integrate.”

“ Not-so-smart (or not-so-flexible) immigrants spend most of their time grousing about how good things were in the ‘old country’.”

Acceptance of change by individuals in education
Slates
“Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates which are more expensive. What will they do if the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will not be able to write.”
Teacher Conference, 1703

Fountain Pens
“Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib. We parents cannot let them wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world which is not so extravagant.”
PTA Gazette, 1914

Ink
“Students today depend on store-bought ink. They don’t know how to make their own. When they run out of ink they will be unable to write words or ciphers until their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education.”
Rural American Teacher, 1928

Ballpoint Pens
“Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Businesses and banks will never allow such expensive items.”
Federal Teachers, 1950

The Challenge
Educators need to reconsider methodology and content
The discussion should not be on whether to use computer and technology tools, they are already a part of the Digital Native’s world, but rather how to use them.

Digital Literacy: The Challenge
Go beyond just using technology
Aim for student-centred, constructivist pedagogy
‘ Just-in-time’ skills for eLearning
Essential skills articulated and expected for all teachers
Teacher creativity in using 21 st century learning tools

Constructivist Approach
Characteristics of Constructivist Teaching
Learners construct their own understanding
New learning depends on current understanding
Learning is facilitated by social interaction
Meaningful learning occurs within authentic learning tasks

ICT and the Constructivist Approach
ICT as a tool for constructivist learning provides:
active and highly motivating engagement with students
powerful tools to create text, art, music, sound, models, presentations, movies etc. that produce high quality products and remove much of the tedium normally associated with such creation
an error-forgiving environment in which editing of a product fosters learning by trial and error
easy communication in text, voice, video
quick access to information and resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimedia_literacy#Constructivist_learning_and_multimedia

Constructivism in the Classroom
A comparison of teaching styles:
If I Teach This Way am I Doing My Job?
Sprague and Dede, Learning and Leading with Technology, Volume 27 No 1, 1999
Techno Constructivism
Grappling’s Technology and Learning Spectrum
http:// www.bjpconsulting.com/files/MAPPSpectrum.pdf
Are you a Techno Constructivist? http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech005.shtml

New Learning Environments
Has more to do with:
Management style
Attitudes amongst teachers
Teacher education
Pedagogical approaches
New learning styles
ICT is not an objective for its own sake but merely represents a mechanism for attaining specific learning objectives

Educators Sharing and Interacting
eLearning Blog
www.123elearning.blogspot.com
The Digital Divide : Impact on Education
www.123elearning.blogspot.com/2006/01/digital-divide-impact-on-education.html
Encourage colleague interaction via blog forums

What does this mean for ISD?
Aim to improve teacher digital literacy
Aim to provide better learning environments
Embrace eLearning and technology integration objectives
Learn from colleagues and encourage open discussion

Handhelds and Laptops
Ubiquitous digital tools for learning
Not the objective for their own sake
Security and reliability issues
Software challenges
Networking issues
Acceptable use issues
Teacher acceptance issues

Digital Literacy: Where to now?
Teacher PD
Why? When? How? Who?
Planning for technology integration
A whole school approach
MYP scope and sequence
Ready, Set, Integrate!
Taking responsibility for eLearning in your classroom

In the words of Dr Khan……
We must bear in mind that at the end of the day, this unique technology will not necessarily be judged by its success as a technology itself, rather unlike the traditional hi-techs, will be assessed as to how much this has succeeded in transforming our society into the new millennium, acting as the most powerful tool, cross cutting Science, Technology, Governance, Economy, Business and finally our Society as a whole. Let’s use the power of this technology to create a society where ICT will not be used to restrict our freedom of thought, deed and belief rather enable them.
From theTunis WSIS Address by Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan
Minister for Science and Information & Communication Technology
Government of Bangladesh

Coming Soon…….
Go Digital!
A celebration of eLearning at ISD
Teachers and students share digital experiences and discuss learning outcomes using 21 st century tools for communication
Wednesday May 10, 2006

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Digital Literacy: E-Learning ideals in the 21st century

by Julie Lindsay on Mar 19, 2007

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Digital Literacy: E-Learning ideals in the 21st century — Presentation Transcript