Blog #2

Hello EME2040! It has been another beautiful week in Tallahassee, FL. 

Taking a further look into technology and its uses in the classroom, I believe that teachers and students are influenced to use technology from curiosity and the desire to learn; two things that teachers and students typically have in common. Teachers can research current events and share them in class with students to apply what they are learning to real life. Also, teachers can assign students to do the same. For example, when I took A.P. Environmental Science in high school, once a semester I would have to find 3 articles relating to what we learned in class that semester and present the articles in class time. Teachers use technology further to share good ideas about class, and receive others' ideas, along with inspiration on teaching, organization, and advice. Students use the internet for clarification. In my experience if I need a further explanation on something, or a different explanation (since each person learns in a different manner), I would look it up for help. 

For ISTE, I chose one of the Student Standards as a meaningful one to myself, being that I practice those standards constantly. The one I am choosing is #6, "Creative Communicator-- Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats and digital media appropriate to their goals." (ISTE) I think a good example of this is the difference between doing a discussion board based question and a private turn in. When completing a more creative assignment, in which educators typically want to be communicative, we use the discussion board platform on Canvas, to create an environment where students can choose appropriate platforms/tools to meet desired objectives, create original works, communicate complex ideas clearly, and publish/present content that customizes the message. One Educator Standard that seems currently outside my skill set is #5, "The Designer-- Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that recognize and accommodate learner variability." (ISTE) The reason this feels far out for me is because I have yet to learn how to design activities and classroom environments that use technology, personalize learning experiences, and authenticate learning activities. 

Lastly, I don't believe the term "digital native" applies to kids born from 1990-2005, but after that age I feel like so much technology was around to grow up with, that the children from 2005+, are fluent technology "speakers". I can 100% see a difference in the way a digital native and a digital immigrant use technology. I feel like older people (digital immigrants) are slower and less efficient on technology. One thing that has affected my school career due to my professors being "digital immigrants", is the fact that sometimes they lack the skills to post on Canvas. They take an old school route where no grades are posted and no assignments are either. I am sure when I have my own classroom I will be a "digital immigrant" to that time period too, being that there will never stop being new inventions and technology introduced to the classroom. I will always try to be updated and incorporate new technology into the classroom.