Equity while learning 21st Century Skills

One issue regarding technology in education that I do not feel has been sufficiently addressed is equity. 

While I adore traditional books, I can still see the significant benefits that come from going digital when it comes to many of our books and libraries. For me, however, I believe that a balance of the two is significant, and that there isn't a need to obliterate traditional books. Sometimes it seems as though there's always a new best thing, and everyone rushes over to that side of the see-saw, when we could probably just stop going back and forth and balance it out in the middle just fine. 

Students are now able to have their phones in the classroom. It makes perfect sense in many ways to utilize this when possible and to use phones to encourage our students to become engaged. However, I also believe that it requires a significant degree of sensitivity. Technology, to many, seems to be viewed as an essential part of daily life these days. However, for many it is not a daily reality. To assume that all of our students have a phone that supports the Apps we would like to share is to ignore the socio-economic dynamics that are present in many of our classrooms - many that we fail to notice, should we not look hard enough. 

The idea of using ipads and ipods in the classroom is no longer a novel idea. However, one thing that concerns me when it comes to technology in the classroom is funding. Schools never seem to have enough of that. What happens when a teacher has some fantastic lessons planned, but a couple of students (or many, many more depending on a variety of factors) do not have the means to access such technology? In my opinion, if technology is truly the way of the future, and is so very important to the learning of our innovative students, than there must be more funding to assure that this is a need that is addressed just as many others in the classroom. Text books are always supplied. Now it is time for the funding to catch up with the 21st Century. 

The Essential Aspect of PRACTICE

For this post I want to discuss a vital aspect of integrating ICT into the classroom. 















Personally, this was especially eye-opening for me as an educator. While for many of us it is a given that our students must engage in the material we are presenting them with, quite frankly in our own education we are talked at rather a lot. For me, before an educational workshop, lecture, or course, there is often a disclaimer at the beginning that things will progress not as they should in a classroom. There will be a lot of professor to student talk - not to be recommended in classrooms. There will not be many hands on, engaging experiences - but do as we say, not as we do.

I have long been a big supporter of the idea that our students must be engaged with their learning to succeed. Yet for some reason, I have never connected that to my own learning until now. 

However, now I see first hand all the difference it makes. What I knew before, I now know from personal experience. And that is powerful. That shapes me as an educator. That serves as a long lasting reminder when I'm in front of my students. 

In my course, ICT Part 1, I was forced not to speak of certain gadgets to incorporate into the classroom. Not to discuss or write up a report. I was forced to do it, to engage with the tools being explored, and what a personally fulfilling experience that has been. More than that, as this is an online course, I did not have someone peeking over my shoulder as, through a series of trial and error, I learned how to maneuver this new world largely by myself, though it was all so very well facilitated. When I first discovered I would need to *gasp* actually embed things, use a wiki, engage in new software applications, etc, I became nervous. This was definitely new territory. That made it all the more gratifying as I discovered the world of embedding, glogs, popplets, and more. 




Here I would like to proudly share some of my creations with you:

For Module 5, I created a Popplet that facilitated the discussion, focusing on learning communities and open source learning. This was a very enjoyable tool that I will certainly pass on to my students!

In addition, I have enjoyed using Wordle, a website that allows you to make visually beautiful and literally relevant word clouds. 

WebDoc is another tool that I have experimented with and thoroughly enjoyed. I'm confident that my students will enjoy exploring this. 

Prezi was also completely new to me, and though it was not my favourite, I am pleased to know how to navigate this useful tool. 

Glogster was definitely one of my favourites! A online poster board, this site allows teachers and students to connect with images, videos, text, links, music and more! 

The course has completely opened up my eyes and has given me opportunities to explore technologies that I can now pass on to my future students. 

I did, and I understood. 

MindShare Learning

MindShare Learning is a leading EdTech industry consulting firm that counsels education leaders. The goal is to help such leaders understand the emerging needs of learners to succeed in the 21st Century.  

In the about section, it states that "Robert Martellacci and his associates collectively bring over 50 years of expertise to the K-12, post-secondary and private sector learning environments. He draws on his experience as a university administrator, where he specialized in sport marketing, public relations and business development in promoting the interests of York University. Most recently Mr. Martellacci augmented his expertise as a graduate of Pepperdine University Masters in Education Technology." To read more, go to the About the Principal Section.

The blog post I was most interested in was Why We Need Teacher-Innovators (Part 2). In this post, Timothy Gard examines just how crucial it is to have teacher-innovators and their affects on the future. As Timothy writes, "I believe that one of the failings of our educational systems that will haunt us in the future unless it is remedied is the lack of system leaders who are committed to creating teaching environments where teachers can collaborate, re-think and innovate. If we need teacher-innovators we also need administrators and system leaders who are also innovators and understand that dynamic learning environments do not happen on their own" (Gard, MindShare Blog). I can completely connect with this, as I have just recently had an experience in technology education that was unlike any of my previous educational courses. During Integration and Technology, Part One through UOIT I have had the opportunity not only to learn about certain technologies that will assist students, but to collaborate with fellow teachers in using the very technologies that will be helpful in the classroom. Such an experience allows the teacher to truly be the student again, and gives permission to play and engage and have fun with the tools that their students will also enjoy.  

As an educational professional, this article reinforces just how essential it is to engage our students with 21st Century learning skills. Though this is a fairly new goal of mine, I have continuously come across information over and over again that supports just how important it is that we as teachers are well equipped in this area of education. I completely support the framework that Teacher-innovators are necessary to facilitate the learning of strong student-innovators who will one day guide us as a country.