I feel that the learner of today is like a race car driver. They have to be constantly alert to the changing environment and the changing technology. The mechanisms of learning, like those of the car, are always changing. You may get a pace lap and a caution every once in a while to help you catch up to the crowd, but once you get a green flag, it is time to go. Learners of today are expected to be on top of the latest technology. They are supposed to be able to handle whatever we as teachers through at them.
I think of my own education. I didn't know what a computer was until I was in fifth grade. I didn't take any school classes until eighth grade and it mostly centered around typing. Now here I am in grad school and I am taking a class through the internet. In my life, it felt as though technology was sink or swim. For example, you can either figure out excel and get the lab report done that the teachers wanted or you get a bad grade. I often wonder what technology will be like for my future children and how much it will change through their lifetime.
As George Siemens says "Learning is a continual process, lasting for a lifetime." This quote sums up what it is to be a learner today, with all the constant changes in technology.
Siemens, G. (2005, January). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, Retrieved November 20, 2005
4 comentarios:
Hi, Mary
Good post! As a slow learner, its not easy to catch up the pace of updating technology in class. But, I need to try it. ^^
Mary Caitlin,
I think your race car driver is an excellent analogy. Thanks goodness that today's learner can also be networked so that the learning is community effort. Perahps the networking is like having a pit stop team to help out the driver.
Dr. Burgos
I really like your analogy. Sometimes, I feel myself old. Because I really don't know too much about internet. I started to use internet just before I went to college. And now, kids from kindergarten could chat online. What a fast changing world.
I agree with your ideas. Yes. Its quite ture. Every-day developing technology will work to changeable learning environment. What learnes should do basicially for better learning will be know how to use the technology well. As i told you here before, as a slow learner, it's really hard to catch up all those updated technology. But, to survive or have better life, i need to try hard.
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