Digital Blog Post #A - Chapter 1

In Chapter 1, we are introduced to the world of our youth who are driven by and driving technology into our future. Although, I believe deep down I knew it all along, I guess I was in disbelief about some of the statistics that I learned from this chapter. It's definitely no surprise to me that kids today have technology at their fingertips when you see toddlers lying down with an ipad watching videos, or playing preschool games on social media photos. However, what IS surprising and alarming to me is the statement that "media multitasking" accounts for "10 hours and 45 minutes of media time during the day. In other words, youngsters were spending almost every waking minute outside school using some type of electronic equipment," according to Maloy et al (2013, pp.4-5). What is there left to show or to do with little people who have the world at their fingertips. This is one thing that I feel would be the biggest challenge to teachers today. The "digital divide" in the 21st century classroom, could pose a problem when you have most students spending every waking hour online while other students have zero digital time outside the classroom. Finding a way to bridge the gap and keeping the computer savvy kids engaged while also providing basic internet/ media instruction to the kids who do not have those skills will be essential lesson planning consideration for today's teachers. 

Secondly, as a student now with prior teaching experience, I find technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPAK) to be a great way for new teachers to learn to balance the three most important aspects of lesson planning today. It combines what to teach, how to teach and how to teach it using technology. This concept was not something that I was taught my first round of college courses in early 2000s, and feel it would've been very helpful had it been. With much trial and error, it may come to teachers and when it does it can make integrating technology so much easier. When I was a language arts teacher, I was always trying to read ahead and be one step ahead regarding the lessons that I was going to teach whether it be grammar, or literature as well as continuously try to incorporate higher order critical thinking questions. Many times I would get caught up in class discussion about the literature but lose sight of the students that may not be following along or getting lost in the shuffle. These were beginner mistakes on my part but a learning experience for me just the same. Having to juggle how to teach meaningful content was a challenge within itself and then having to do so by incorporating technology was disastrous for me at times! It was a difficult and underestimated task. TPAK, is something that I plan on learning more about and practicing in my future return to the middle school classroom not matter what subject I end up teaching. 

Last, but not least I would have to agree that "Building a digital identity as a technology-using educator is an exciting part of becoming a teacher and is as important as creating and refining an in-front-of the-class-teaching personality," as stated by Maloy, et al (2013, p.15). Just like anything in else in education, keeping up with the most recent studies through continuing education and professional development as it pertains to media is an essential part of evolving as a teacher. One of the greatest things about being an educator is that you learn with every lesson you teach or observe.  With every new resource you are given or taught, you are eager to incorporate it in your own classroom. Being able to model to your students that you are capable of teaching them in a way that they didn't expect to learn, can make for more meaningful learning experiences for students of all learning styles.  

In conclusion, the world as we know it is no longer the world that we knew growing up. We need to look to the future with an open mind and build upon the knowledge that we have and learn to go in this forward gush of technology and embrace it as our new way of teaching in the 21st Century.  

Resources:

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.