Lesson 3: Understanding Technology Learners

Content

We now live in an increasingly diverse, globalized, and complex, media-saturated society. The technological revolution will have a greater impact on society than the transition from an oral to a print culture. Some people fail to realize that the new generation of the 21^st millennium is not is not the kind of learner before, but they were the Information Technology or Digital Learners.

            In the past a learner was a young person who went to school, spent a specified amount of time in certain courses, received passing grades and graduated.  Today we must see learners in a new context:

1.We must maintain student interest by helping them see how what they are learning prepares them for life in the real world. 

2.We must instill curiosity, which is fundamental to lifelong learning. 

3.We must be flexible in how we teach.

4.We must excite learners to become even more resourceful so that they will continue to learn outside the formal school day.”

             Lest the concern for new learners is not understood, the scientists say something about this matter:

• There are positive benefits derived from the use of information technology or digital resources and these counterbalance possible negative effects of technology o children.

• Daily exposure to high technology personal computers, video game gadgets, cell phones, internet search sites-stimulates the brain by strengthening and creating neural circuits.

• A current technological revolution is creating an intellectual revolution, faster and better than ever before.

            It is also believed that psychologist Jean Piaget’s stages of development should be revised due to digital acculturation of children which is mainly caused by the availability of digital resources such as IPod, video game gadgets, computer games, mobile phones, and the internet.

            Issues and concerns arising from these technological advances must be met: questionable concentration in multi tasking, under development of social face-face interactions and inability to complete certain tasks due to distractions.

Experience

I myself categorize myself as digital learner. I graduated in elementary at a rural area wherein computer education is not readily available at some point and then i preceded my secondary education in this same institution where technological advances were a trend. I could recall how I was culture shocked but then given the availability ans access to resources, I was able to cope with the trend and today I am continually expanding my knowledge about technology.

 

Reflection

I can see the big picture that learners will never be the same be it the learners in the past, today and tomorrow. Students in technology-supported classrooms are armed with powerful tools to help them gather information, consult with colleagues, and present their findings. Their autonomy and confidence increase as they rely less on their teacher and more on their own initiative for knowledge-creation. Technology enables students to manipulate information in a manner that accelerates both understanding and the progression of higher-order thinking skills. As students gather more real-world data, share their findings with learners beyond their school, and publish their findings to the world, their role broadens from investigators of other products to designers, authors, purveyors, and publishers of their own work. Information from the Internet is more dynamic than the printed word. Teachers who understand the medium will use its currency and authenticity to their advantage. Along the way they will find an added bonus from such an environment--they become learners as well. Technology amplifies the resources teachers can offer their students. Rather than relying on the textbook for content, computers can provide on-line access to content experts and up-to-date information from original sources. Reference materials on CD-ROMs and curriculum assistance from high quality software offer many more resource opportunities than most classrooms or school libraries could provide.

Application

Even in the information and communication technology revolution and the wide influence of the digital world, we should take part our role as teachers and not to be totally reliable on technology.