EDLD 5364: Week 1 Part 1

Technology is changing the world. Competition is fierce and can come from anywhere in the world. People that see technology as a driving force in education are eager to learn and incorporate the technology into their daily lives. Bloggers communicate for a variety of reasons. Companies create web pages and wikis to track commodities and customer satisfactions. Education must change with the technology. As workplace skills become more technology based, educators must use current technology to engage and prepare the students for the future. Collaboration and communication must expand to better serve students and teachers. This will cause a transformation in student thinking and educator teaching methods. Students already use technology for communicating, playing video games, conducting internet searches, using the web for homework, and sharing music and video files. Teachers need to engage the students by using technology that is already being used outside of the school walls. Since students learn in a variety of ways, technology can be used as a powerful educator tool to introduce different teaching strategies.

Constructivism is a learning theory that states learning is a product of experience and social discourse. This theory allows learning to be a personal event for each individual. Knowledge is constructed in many ways and experience is used to create new learning experiences. According to this theory, teachers should provide learner-centered opportunities with plenty of chances for students to reflect on what has been learned.

Connectivism is another learning theory which states learning is a process of connecting information sources. Knowing more is more critical than knowing what is current. Making connections between ideas, concepts, and fields is a core skill. Learning and work related activities are connected while technology and making connections are linked.

Various technologies can enhance student learning, but only if used appropriately, Technologies can bring excitement to curriculum, connect real world problems, expand opportunities for learning, give opportunities for feedback, and build local and global communities. Children process information differently, and introducing and using a variety of technology resources can aid in the learning process. Technology is a tool to help students problem solve and create a better understanding of the world around us.