Vision of Technology - Teaching a Tech-Saturated Generation

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Though many of us that were born earlier than the 90s have commented on this fact, it still astounds me that in my short life-time of nearly 26 years I have seen floppy-disk-drive-capable, black-and-yellow screen computers evolve into lightning fast tablets with high definition touch screens and endless possibilities. Furthermore, it is simply incredible how quickly children are able to pick up and use this new technology in our 21st century world. For example, just a few weeks ago, I opened a simple game up on my Samsung Galaxy S5 phone and handed it over to my 3 year old nephew to play. After chatting with my parents for a few minutes I looked back over to see how he was doing only to discover that he had somehow successfully exited the game and opened the Netflix app, logging into his family’s account in order to watch his favorite shows – this was the first time he’d used my phone without supervision and he was already more tech savvy with it than my parents.

As a student in the Master of Education program at Southern NH University, the above example resonated with me and kick-started my thinking as I prepare to teach. Though not all students learn the same, it is apparent that many children are now exposed to various forms of technology at an early age and it would therefore seem unproductive to not include some form of that technology in the classroom. The question remains, then, how do we as educators prepare to teach a technology-saturated generation of diverse learners? I believe that the answer comes down to using technology as a helpful tool in the classroom (as opposed to a necessary adaptation) and focusing on two areas: connectivity and accessibility.

Connectivity

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First of all, with the revolution of the internet and the increasing capability and availability of Wi-Fi (as well as local area networks), physically connecting to students, fellow educators, parents, and various other resources has never been easier. However, when it comes to technology and connectivity, the real benefit is what connectivity allows: continuous collaborative work between educators, students, and outside resources. Take, for example, the WikiFoundry website Skype an Author Network (sponsored by Mona Kerby and Sarah Chauncey). This resource works as a database for teachers who would like to schedule a Skype video call with an author for their classroom. Imagine being able to instantly connect your middle-grade or high school students with the very author who wrote the book they’ve been reading!

Children and adolescents are already using these kinds of tools to connect to others around the world and I believe it is only a natural extension for educators to teach them that the same resources can be used in their learning and educational growth. Connecting with authors is only one suggestion, though, and it is only scratching the surface on the capabilities technological connectivity provides. To give a different kind of example, technology can even improve connectivity within the same classroom. Gone should be the days of a teacher only using presentation software like PowerPoint when students can have access to hardware like tablets or Chromebooks and software like shared cloud drives and documents. Students should be actively engaged and connected in order to learn, not simply empty vessels to be filled with knowledge – as Paulo Friere argued in Pedagogy of the Oppressed (P. Friere, 2000) (Online PDF of that document available here)

Accessibility

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https://www.learningally.org/parents-students/
how-to-use-audiobooks/become-a-better-reader/

The vast scope of possibilities modern technology allows brings us to the second area of focus: accessibility. Not all students learn in the same way. Therefore, it is not of any benefit or merit to force them to adapt to one specific learning style. If a student with a hearing impairment, ADHD, or even simply a preferred auditory learning style over a visual one could better access the material through assistive technology, isn’t it in our best interest to allow them that tool so that they might flourish in their learning instead of ‘catch up’ to their peers?

For example, websites such as Learning Ally provide resources in the form of audio books (even textbooks) for students who might be struggling with dyslexia or having a difficult time focusing on written materials. Pairing such a service with headphones and a virtual or physical copy of a textbook can help a wide range of students who might otherwise have struggled reading level or staying on task while reading. Many of us today (child and adult) use technology to make everyday living easier – whether it be shopping online, Googling a question, or using a GPS to find a location – shouldn’t we be using the same concept to make learning easier as well?

Accessibility through technology can even reach those students who might not physically be able to attend school due to medical constraints. Take for example the VGo Robot by VGo Communications, Incorporated. Working as an avatar for the student at home, this mobile, remote-controlled robot can allow a level of virtual participation previously unheard of and give access to classroom learning that a student might otherwise miss out on. (Watch a video of the VGo robot in action below!)

To conclude, I believe that it is absolutely essential to integrate technology into the classroom if we want to provide the best learning environment for a variety of different students. Children of our current generation are already using technology to enhance their connectivity and accessibility to the world around them. It only makes sense for us, as educators, to use these tools for teaching and learning as well.

 

Resources

Freire, P. (2000). Pedagogy of the oppressed (30th anniversary ed., pp. 71-86). New York: Continuum.

Dyslexia Support | Learning Ally. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2014, from https://www.learningally.org/ 

VGo robotic telepresence for healthcare, education and business. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2014, from http://www.vgocom.com/ 

Virtual Author Visits in Your Library or Classroom - Skype An Author Network. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2014, from http://skypeanauthor.wikifoundry.com/