E-learning

What are some characteristics of digital natives? (What are they good at? What are they poor at?)

Good at: -

·         Technology, they are very IT savvy and often are able to use complex

     technology /devices easily

·         Socializing via different sites over the Internet

·         Blogging, podcast, etc.

·         Online shopping – can source out for items easily

·         Gaming – good at playing games and some even come up with their own games

·         They are good at practicing self directed learning as they often tend to explore different

            ways and methods to find out more about something that they really like. 

·         Seeing things from different angles and perspectives – creative ppl

·         They are good at trouble shooting issues to come up with solutions

Poor at:  -

• Paying attention to something that they don’t particularly fancy – therefore they tend to have a short attention span
• They may be poor in academics as they may not revise their work and end up spending too much time on their technology
• Some are very poor in communicating their ideas verbally as they are used to using digital technology to communicate
• Some may be poor in their language as they often use their computer lingo to communicate, which may not be correct

Which portrait did you select? (In your blog, create a link to the portrait.) In terms of their digital background, how similar was that student compared to a Singapore student?

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-olivia-video

Person Selected: Olivia

Similarity between Olivia & a Singapore Student:-

Both are

• Very IT savvy and are very comfortable with technology
• Very independent
• Creative individuals who are able to design web pages, blogs and other sites
• Able to source out for places to use the computer regardless of whether they have an excess to one
• Very interested in the latest technology and are always looking forward to own and become part of a more latest technology

How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?

Ø  Include more multimedia-based learning and provide opportunities for multi-tasking and networking.

Ø  Teachers should use the latest technology and devices to relate to the digital natives students

Ø  Allow students to use the IT background to peer teach one another so that they feel good about sharing their knowledge

Ø  Teachers should use and think according to their students’ level of cognitive standard and structure lessons to incorporate that into their lessons

PART B: -

As you look into the possible future of the educational landscape, what sort of impressions, fears, or possibilities crossed your mind?

Ø  Education will be very self- directed in the future where every student would take personal initiative in learning

Ø  Learning can happen anywhere at any time as long as the student wants to

Ø  Students can obtain information through learning devices and teachers are seen as facilitators only

Ø  It will be a paperless generation

Ø  Learning will be enjoyable as students have a larger say in what they want to take back after an educational experience

Ø  Everything would happen at a click of a button

Ø  The convenience of carrying out tasks will be enhanced

Ø  How to motivate students if they just don’t want to learn??

Ø  This may make people lazier and their physical activity may drop even further

Ø  Teaching would be at its minimal as teachers will take a back seat in the learning journey, in fact they would just be there to ensure the smooth transition of the students learning

Ø  A lot of information will be made available, how does one control the quality of such information and how does one ensures that the information obtain does not infringe any rules

What might living, learning and working be like in the future?

Ø  It will be definitely more convenient as one just has to click buttons to get things done

Ø  The standard of living will be much higher as well as the cost of living

Ø  People need to be more educated in the long run as lower education may not even be recognized in the future

Ø  Learning will be very interesting and independent

Ø  Pupils will be self-directed learners and be very proactive

Ø  Working would be much more convenient as the paperwork is largely cut down, I wonder how teachers will give out the results to students? Through emails maybe??

How is NIE preparing you to prepare your students for this possible future? How might you prepare yourself?

Ø  Through the ICT course, NIE has helped me understand technology better and I know now different types of methods to incorporate ICT in my teaching

Ø  We were also introduced to game based learning – our students are definitely playing lots of these games and we now know a thing or two about the types of games

Ø  This way I will be able to know the latest technology and try to be one step ahead or at least at par with my students

Ø  I can speak their lingo and use the same platform of technologies as them

Ø  Also we are given the LDS from the ministry to develop ourselves so we are able to purchase devices and technology and try it out to learn from it and then finally to incorporate the values into our teaching

Ø  This way our students will be able to connect better with us and understand the subject better