Today’s classrooms are vastly different than they were a decade ago. A decade ago, if you were to walk into a classroom, students sitting in rows reading from a textbook, or completing a worksheet. In today’s classrooms, the desks are arranged so students can work collaboratively and cooperatively, the teacher isn’t just a lecturer, but a facilitator or a guide for her students.
Today’s classrooms have computers, iPads, and Smartboards, etc. Students may still be taught the exact same lesson, but today’s teachers know that all students learn differently. Teachers work on each student differently as several students working on the same lesson, but they would be using a different method to get the same answer depending on their learning skills.
Many students would be using technology than reading from a book, or completing a worksheet. As digital tools improve so does the teaching and learning in education for students. Digital learning has the potential to reach more children than before. With the help of digital technology, the teacher can motivate unmotivated students so that they can learn and grow. It also has the potential to create more career opportunities for students and teachers.
As technology advances, teachers advance with different learning styles. Digital technology makes it possible for students to learn quicker and better. It allows them to connect with others, and it has the potential to boost the effectiveness of ordinary, average students. It has the ability to turn boring, non-innovative lessons into fun and engaging ones.
When evolving a community of practice in my teaching context considering online learning provide an opportunity for educators to connect around similar topics, passions, and areas of expertise. I think with a community of practice is an act of sharing what works well & what doesn’t, and can bring opportunities for growth and innovation in the classroom, empowering educators to try new things. Joining a community of practice can also be motivating for students because it allows them to learn from the experiences of others.
Hi Pushpinder,
I agree with you that digital technology can help make learning engaging, but I think we should not make our students rely on digital technology to learn. For example, the experience of reading a paper book is very different than reading an e-book. Personally, my eyes get tired of reading on the computer, but I do like the option of saving and highlighting quotes. For primary students, I think it is important they have the experience of holding a real book as they can track the words with their fingers to ensure they are reading all of the words on the page. I also believe it is important for students to know how to use digital technology to learn since we live in a digital age and much of their future learning (and future work) will be using computers to write assignments. I think it is important to balance digital technology in the classroom so students get the opportunity to experience learning in a variety of ways.