Over the past few weeks I have been spending some time in a Year One class and am amazed at how they incorporate technology into almost every lesson. At the beginning of the 'Teaching with New Technologies' course I was skeptical of the notion of normalisation and believed that even in our generation as teachers technology would not be used in everyday lessons in an everyday classroom. I thought that older years would be using computers to type and research (Web1.0)but had no idea year one's would incorporate smart boards and computers in most lessons.
This brings me to my second point, the benefits of integrating technology in web2.0 format in constructivist lessons. Constructivist see that learning results from accommodation of new ideas and using Web2.0 is a fantastic way to fuel discussion and deeper investigation on certain topics. It requires students to think and brainstorm ideas and react with other students opinions. It is important though from a constructivist's prospective for ideas to be carefully selected and sequenced to provoke appropriate perturbations in students thinking, therefore teachers must be constantly monitoring and directing information to ensure students are working in their zone of proximal development.
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I think you're right that the normalisation wave will engulf us sooner that we might imagine. It's quite staggering how quickly things are changing - Facebook is only 6 years old; YouTube = 5; Twitter = 4 ...
ReplyDeleteYour second point is also an important one. Activities have to be carefully structured in order to ensure web 2.0 technology doesn't just become an aimless (if dynamic and exciting) filler. Used in conjunction with each other, social constructivist pedagogy and web 2.0 technology can be a remarkably productive combination.
I still feel so "old" in my thoughts about what teaching is (ie whiteboards and workbooks). i need some normalisation to hit me hard so that technology can become as easy to me as using a whiteboard!
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