What a challenge we have to embrace technology, maintain a safe and comfortable e-learning environment whilst attempting to provide equitable access to this brave new world. Interesting that the common thread in schools is that WIKIs, BLOGs and YouTube are blocked access!
I am finding it really difficult to get my head inside that of a digital native and that is what I think I need to do in order to effectively design learning opportunities for my future students, however the variance in digital native literacy reminds me of the inequalities apparent in our society.
Even if everyone was a digital native the problem of motivation would still exist and that is the crux of the 'education/learning' matter.
In this century we have more opportunities to engage the learner and ICT is a major player there. Providing a safe learning environment translating from the physical, which is still vital, to the virtual, is necessary and challenging. This requires more protocols to be established and adhered to by learning managers as we protect our learners.
Phsyically providing access to the internet highlights the equity issues in all countries around the world. Is internet access going to be considered a basic human right?
ICT opens up the world of information and provides a vast array of tools for creativity and communication. As learning managers we need to understand the tool, recognise that it is a tool and not a teacher replacement.
As a Home Ec./ Hospitality specialist there are many opportunities to use ICT. Within the current curriculum it is possible to go on-line and access information and complete assessment to attain certain industry standards eg. OHS. Motivating students to become involved in on-line discussions and using blogs and wikis is challenging and suggests it is not the mode of learning but the content students are forced to learn which is the issue. The current government policy of learning or earning has attempted to legislate learning which will only be truly successful when the learner is intrinsically motivated in spite of all the virtual bells and whistles.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Hi
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog it got me thinking about the Digital Natives(again). In today's society there would be different levels of the digital native. I know that my children 8 and 6 go to a school where there are 26 different cultures in the 236 students. For this school computers are not as important as oral language!
Does that mean that my children are been disadvantage and will not become the digital native?
You have also made a very valid point in regards to blocked access on school computers. Shouldn't all schools be able to use the same websites for educational reasons?
Isn't there software out there that the schools can use to block site?
Didn't the Goverment set up a free internet security?
Sorry to pose so many questions.......It's a very interesting topic that you have bought up
Till next time
Donna
Hi Sue
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, you raise an interesting topic. I think it is important to understand that e-learning tools are not a replacement for teachers, rather an aid to teachers. They allow teachers to create more engaging and relevant topics for the new generation. However, it can be a problem when most sites are blocked in access. I realise that finding the balance between protection and freedom on the internet is hard to establish but the government and the education department definitely need to come up with a solution to this soon. The internet is increasing in popularity, and I personally cannot see its growth slowing down any time soon. By not allowing students access to the information they need we are disadvantaging them.
Regards
Lyneale
What an interesting dialogue you guys have going here. I tend to believe that a child is disadvantaged if they are in a school where computer skills are not valued. Perhaps it should not be that way but regardless the workforce they go out into demands this of them.
ReplyDeleteChris Sarra (the Prinicipal of Cherboug State School) was talking at a conference and explaining turned the schools dismal record of below benchmark scores and high absenteeism around. He said something that really got me. He said that Aboriginal students had been left behind in literacy in the past and he was determined to be at the forefront with the new literacy of computers. He saw this as an essential in today's world and I agree with him.
Hello Donna,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this blog! I too am a bit baffled by the number of ICT tools that are available for educators to use, but are limited to which sites students will have access too based upon the school's "duty of care" to protecting the students.
Then there is the issue of access and equity. Will all students have access to the internet at home?
Cheers,
Liisa
Thanks for all the comments ladies.
ReplyDeleteThe more I consider e-learning the more I wonder whether we are we will experience a similar change from when the slate was replaced with paper and ink?!
Will e-learning be THAT encompassing?
WOW!
sue