EDIM 508 Unit 1 Summary Posting

Media Minds: Students’ Use of Media Today

I’ve enjoyed reading your discussions this week. I hope that the readings have better opened your mind to the
use of digital media and technological resources in education. I’d like to highlight some outstanding thoughts
from this week’s discussion.

Abigail- I haven't convinced myself that the activities or programs I use with students are actually
making a difference in their learning; instead I wonder if that webquest I typed up overnight is just a ploy to
show my administrators I know how to post an assignment onto Google Classroom. As a newer teacher, I don't
doubt my ability to "communicate in the language and style" of my students, but I often reflect on whether or
not they are getting what's important and how I can improve.

Alexis- In my professional opinion, I believe there needs to be a balance.

After reading today’s assignments, I started to look around my classroom in awe at
the numbers of personal devices and often they are used in a day. This flood of
technology also takes away from basic socialization skills. I have seen an increase in
student abilities and confidence to discuss concepts through blogs, social media, and
email; however, when it comes time to collaborate or interact face-to-face, there is a
communication disconnect. It is almost as though they feel lost without a screen in
between them.

Alexsandra- We all know that technology is almost always an instant motivator for our students. I
strive to find innovative ways to incorporate it so that my students can have meaningful learning experiences
that they are excited about. We are lucky to have so many different tools to that allow us to reach the many
needs of every individual sitting before us. Through technology, we can provide them with better differentiation
to help them succeed.

Ashley- It is my job as a teacher to adapt to this change in our world. If kids are interested in video
games, computers, and IPADs, then to keep my students interested and engaged, I need to incorporate these
things into my daily teaching. I need to engage and motivate my students and to do that I need to ensure that
my teaching incorporates things that do so.

Courtney- Every generation goes through a learning curve with the new trends and styles, but this
generation most likely has gone through a change more radical than we are accustomed to seeing. If children’s
thinking patterns have changed, how do we expect to teach them using the same strategies we’ve been using?
This is the time to get creative and change the way we address education. If you think about it, it is exciting. We
can be pioneers in the educational world, leading the way to innovative teaching approaches.
 Jason- I am working with other “specials” teacher to institute a few classes devoted to STEAM this
year and I think trying to work more technology into these classes helps the students understand how Art can tie
into Technology. We as teachers are trying to always gear learning towards the digital age, and I think
students appreciate that this happening. I think we must change as teachers to bring on the changes we need to
help and hold the attention of our ever growing Digital Native.

Jill- I can see how Digital Immigrant teachers may have trouble meeting the needs of these students,
especially if they are reluctant to new technology. I agree with Prensky when he writes, “Smart adult
immigrants accept that they don’t know about their new world and take advantage of their kids to help them
learn and integrate” (Prensky, 2001). I feel that teachers who are open to expanding their technological
abilities, by allowing their students and younger colleagues to help them, as well as through accepting the
support of their district to help “learn the language” are going to be more
successful in teaching these technological students of today.

Kaelin- I believe that learning is easiest when we use as many

senses as possible. Students who can see examples while hearing a catchy
phrase or song to help them remember are more likely to retain that information
than just reading silently and getting lost among the pages. If we as educators
can show our students that the technology they already posses can help them
excel in the studies that they can sometimes find grueling we can guide them in
loving to learn through the use of technology. I don't think it needs to be one or
the other anymore.

Kali- Many students have the technology but aren’t using it to it’s full capability. Many of my upper
classman use their phone only for social networking and have to be explicitly taught how to share a google doc
from their phone, how to utilize FlipGrid to access makeup work, or how to attach a file to an email. Just
because their phones are glued to their hands 24/7 (there goes my accent again ) doesn’t mean that they can
properly use it to function in an academic or work setting. As teachers, we have to be willing to learn alongside
of them and welcome the natives who are operating fully digital to take the reins at times.

Karl- I think we as educators have a struggle to teach them why knowing the behind the scenes is
important and that the instant gratification of a google search or a snap is not going to get them a job or teach
them how to fix something. Not to continue my negativity of the digital natives, but Prensky states a question
“Should digital natives students learn the old ways, or should their digital immigrant educators learn the
new?” I think when it comes down to it really working in the classroom I think both sides need to meet in the
middle, but that includes the students putting down their devices to learn.

Katherine- As a teacher trying to get students to read something more than the back of a cereal
box I see a new struggle, the decline of reading in the school day and outside of it as well. I was noticing this
decline mentioned in the article but I knew the students at least were reading for pleasure at school if it wasn’t
happening so much at home. Last year, when we weren’t 1:1, a student would finish their work, get out a book
and start reading. Now I’m noticing an even more rapid decrease because when a student is done with their
work their first inclination is to go on their iPad.

Lauren- There has been such a shift upward with technology these days, and I am still in debate if it
has had more of a positive or negative impact in our world today. Today’s technology certainly has its pros and
cons, but I just cannot decide the type of impact it’s had. In both observation in other classrooms and using it
first hand in my teaching, I do feel like there is increased student engagement.

Luke- Hopefully, as more and more digital natives enter the

teaching profession, they will be able to more effectively bridge the divide
between how teachers teach and how today's students naturally learn while also
helping their digital immigrant colleagues adjust to become more comfortable
in the digital culture. However, since the only constant in the world of
technology is constant change, it is probably only a matter of time until today's
digital natives are converted into tomorrow's digital immigrants. If that
happens, hopefully we natives will remember to be open to change so that we
can meet the needs of our students.

Matthew- The implications for teachers are that we need to adapt in this ever changing world, and
keep up with the times if we want to reach our digital native learners. It can be challenging at times, and it’s
always easy to fall back to what we are comfortable with, but if we truly want to reach our students, technology
and media use will need to increase in the classroom.

Melissa- With support from administration and the right technology tools I believe digital immigrant
teachers can learn the language of their digital native students. But with technology we still need to remember
the importance of socialization that school and learning can teach. Our students need to be able to work with
each other and collaborate.

Natalie- My students are limited in the use of technology which limits my teaching capabilities.
Hence, it limits my students’ interest in the curriculum when I am not using technology. I know I can do so
much more if more technology was available for my students. There is no going back to overhead projectors.
We can only go forward from here with technology in households and in schools.

Nicole- By his logic, if DNs can't learn through DI ways because their brains are pre-programmed,
DIs shouldn't be able to change either, as their brains would also be pre-programmed albeit differently. He
can't have it both ways. I propose meeting in the middle. Seeing as state tests are unlikely to change in favor of
DNs' learning preferences, educators should scaffold learning for DNs. Start units through media methods
comfortable to our DN students
 Rachelle- It is sad to think about the many opportunities children are missing out on by allowing
media to completely consume their lives. Another thing I found interesting was preferring games to "serious"
work (2). As I was reading that paragraph, it enlightened me of how accurate it was. We, as a society, want
everything done NOW, which means the less work we put into it, the better. I feel that this is becoming the norm
as technology slowly takes over this world. The implications of teachers are that we need to be willing to
change with society.

Rebecca- I believe that if they have a teacher who they feel comfortable asking
questions to, they would be willing to add some of the digital media into the classroom that
will keep our students engaged and excited about the material they are learning. I am
excited to take this course and hope that I am able to take what I learn and implement the
use of digital media into my classroom as well as help those teachers who consider
themselves Digital Immigrants learn new ways to engage their students!

Sarah- At school my students’ favorite reward is when they get to use the IPAD mini’s to do ST
Math, a math program our school purchased this year. They think it is fun and consider it a reward, so that it
motivating for them. I try to incorporate technology into my lessons that will motivate and interest them.