Tuesday 8th January 2019
My name Emily and I’m studying Primary Education here at UWS. I chose Digital Technologies as my optional module as I wanted to build on my ICT skills. At school I did higher admin and really enjoyed it. Administration allowed me to gain experience using computer software’s such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel, however I never got to use applications such as IMovie or Book Creator. I’m looking forward to this module as I will be able to become familiar with various technologies that I can use in my classroom as a qualified teacher.
I personally value the use of digital technologies in Primary School. It is important children are able to experience and use current technologies. In today’s society technology is used in work and life in general. The use of technologies such as laptops in the classroom may benefit children who come from a poorer background and do not have these technologies at home. Using digital technologies in school can contribute to closing the attainment gap regarding poverty as all the children have the same opportunities to use digital technologies (Scottish Government, 2016). I agree with the Scottish Government in this instance. If children do not have experience using digital technologies at all they are less likely to have the same opportunities when leaving school and perhaps will find it harder to get a job. So by using digital technologies in the classroom it ensures children get equal opportunities using technology and I think this is a factor that might help close the attainment gap regarding poverty.
During my placement I saw many children who became more engaged with their learning when they had the opportunities to use iPads or laptops. This is also why I believe the use digital technologies in the classroom is important, as using them might engage learners who wouldn’t normally be as engaged. Digital technologies can allow interactions and awards, which children like, as they are growing up playing games on devices such as the iPad. Hence why I believe using digital technologies to support children’s learning is essential, as this is the way they process information and learn.
Students today process information differently as they are a generation that has grown up constantly using digital technologies. For teachers who are ‘Digital Immigrants’ and haven’t grown up with technology it is important they can use digital technologies in their classroom to support the learning for these ‘Digital Natives’. The ‘Digital Natives’ can’t learn with just textbooks and writing, they need the use of digital technologies as they process information in this format (Prensky, 2001). Therefore, I believe it’s important that teachers today can use digital technologies in their classroom so that their students are able to learn in a way that they are used to and enjoy.
By the end of this module, I hope to have increased my understanding of the range of digital technologies available and I’m able to effectively use them in a classroom setting. I did not do the reading before the session which put me at a disadvantage as I was unable to fully involve myself in discussions. For the rest of this module I aim to be more organised and do the pre-session reading so I can get the most out of the workshop.
In my opinion, digital technologies are the future, and teachers need to understand how to use these technologies in order to effectively teach the new generations that have grown up with them. I am very excited to start this module and increase my knowledge of ICT and new technologies.
REFERENCES
Marc Prensky (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. [pdf] Available: https://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf [Accessed 10 January 2019].
Scottish Government (2016) Enhancing Teaching and Learning through the use of Digital Technologies: A Digital Learning and Teaching Strategy for Scotland. [Online] Available: https://www.gov.scot/publications/enhancing-learning-teaching-through-use-digital-technology/ [Accessed 8 January 2019].
