- What impact is the more generalised use of technology (the experience of the Internet generation) having on the way that students learn, and how should we as educators be either adapting to that change OR counteracting that change?
- What technologies are available to enhance existing teaching methods and increase student (especially those students familiar with IT) engagement?
The study from the University of Melbourne (Educating the Net Generation) suggests that we can continue to use the same teaching methods. It also addresses the fact that many students are not as technologically savvy as we might assume. They also continue to value face to face interaction most highly (Hughes, 2009).
However, a recent article in the New york Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html) suggests that not only are modern technologies being integrated and synthesized with our lives to an unprecedented level, but use of these technologies may even be changing the way that we process information, by affecting our attention span and ability to process information analytically. If this is the case, this could have a serious impact on how we must adapt our teaching to either model this way of learning or attempt to remould the learning pathways. The readings for today pointed out that the skills that technology literate people tend to lack are those involved in critical thinking and analysis. I think the challenge for us is to use learning technologies in a way that enhances those skills, rather than catering to surface learning approach as advocated by the speed and volume of delivery of information in the Web 2.0 world.
At this early stage of the course, it seems that perhaps online activities which draw students step by step though a learning process may be the most effective way of integrating online content and deep learning.
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