This document discusses the ongoing debate around the role of technology in education. It argues that while some consider traditional teaching styles without technology to be superior, in reality all classroom tools from books to chalkboards are forms of technology. It reviews the evolution of various technologies used in classrooms and suggests students today are generally more digitally literate than teachers due to constant personal technology use. Several studies find students engage more with learning via podcasts, online discussions, and integrating social media into coursework compared to traditional lectures. The document concludes that to educate students without developing their digital literacy skills leaves them ill-prepared for a future where technology proficiency will be essential.

1. The ongoing platform wars of today’s classrooms… The ongoing platform wars of today’s classrooms… “Teaching without digital technology is an irresponsible pedagogy. Why? The future is digital.” “Teaching without digital technology is an irresponsible pedagogy. Why? The future is digital.” image: tartanpodcast

2. image: Claremont Colleges Digital Library This is not merely a “mac vspc” scenario… but rather a “technological vstraditional” scenario.

3. “Traditional” styles of teaching are often considered to be “without technology”. However, anyinventions ever used in the classroom, even “traditional styles”, are forms of technology. “Traditional” styles of teaching are often considered to be “without technology”. However, anyinventions ever used in the classroom, even “traditional styles”, are forms of technology. image: aaronharmon

4. …They may not be what we consider to be “technology”, because not all are digital inventions or even pieces of machinery. But there have still been constant advances in the world of teaching. …They may not be what we consider to be “technology”, because not all are digital inventions or even pieces of machinery. But there have still been constant advances in the world of teaching. Books, paper, pen, desks, chalkboards, whiteboards, all of these are technologies. Books, paper, pen, desks, chalkboards, whiteboards, all of these are technologies. image: morch

5. Evolution of learning tools… aka “technology”: Magic lantern - 1870 Chalkboard - 1890 Pencil - 1900 Stereoscope - 1905 Radio - 1925 Overhead Projector - 1930 Language Lab Headset - 1950 Educational Television - 1958 Scantron - 1972 Plato Computer - 1980 Graphing Calculator - 1985 Interactive Whiteboard (Smartboard) - 1999 iPhone - 2007 iPad - 2010 Evolution of learning tools… aka “technology”: Magic lantern - 1870 Chalkboard - 1890 Pencil - 1900 Stereoscope - 1905 Radio - 1925 Overhead Projector - 1930 Language Lab Headset - 1950 Educational Television - 1958 Scantron - 1972 Plato Computer - 1980 Graphing Calculator - 1985 Interactive Whiteboard (Smartboard) - 1999 iPhone - 2007 iPad - 2010 image: tango.mceffrie

6. Interactive Whiteboard (Smartboard) - 1999 iPhone - 2007 iPad - 2010 As you can see, we are moving into an age of interactive technology use within schools. As you can see, we are moving into an age of interactive technology use within schools. image: smemon

7. Right now, students don’t feel like they are learning in environments that are tech-savvy… Only 32% of students said that they believed their college was adequately preparing them to use technology in their careers. image: thorinside

8. Even though the students scored their teachers low on a “tech-savvy” scale, the teachers thought that they themselves were actually quite digitally literate. Even though the students scored their teachers low on a “tech-savvy” scale, the teachers thought that they themselves were actually quite digitally literate. Gaps between the faculty and student grades on technology may relate in part to different use patterns of students and faculty members when it comes to technology. On every category in the survey, including some that are not particularly cutting edge, student use outpaced faculty use. Gaps between the faculty and student grades on technology may relate in part to different use patterns of students and faculty members when it comes to technology. On every category in the survey, including some that are not particularly cutting edge, student use outpaced faculty use. http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/11/05/survey image: chewbacka

9. Therefore, students are generally more digitally literate because they use technology constantly. So shouldn’t school systems be looking to move forward and engage with digital natives in ways that interest them? image: thorinside

10. Using technology encourages Tangential learning: students begin to self-educate themselves when they are exposed to content in contexts they already enjoy. Digital natives have been immersed in the use of technology since birth; technology use has become a part of their daily lives. image: cproppe

11. image: sevenbirches Some teachers say that technology distracts students; however, they generally use technology to fill moments of boredom due to poor teaching. Some teachers say that technology distracts students; however, they generally use technology to fill moments of boredom due to poor teaching. “Class time should be reserved for discussion, especially now that students can download lectures online and find libraries of information on the Web. - José A. Bowen, Dean of Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) “Class time should be reserved for discussion, especially now that students can download lectures online and find libraries of information on the Web.” - José A. Bowen, Dean of Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas)

12. image: lisahumes Many teachers believe they are using technology to enhance learning; BUT they are actually hiding behind lecture slides, notusing technology to engage with the students.

13. “It is clear that the issue is not one related to machines. Instead, it is the lack of skill employed by the professor and the inability to use technology wisely.” http://www.openeducation.net/2009/07/31/dean-encourages-professors-to-teach-naked/ image: patriziasoliani

14. So if some teachers are blaming technology for distracting students from their studies… Are we to imagine banning books in class? “No books, they get in the way of discussion.” So if some teachers are blaming technology for distracting students from their studies… Are we to imagine banning books in class? “No books, they get in the way of discussion.” Technology has the power to enhance learning in the same way that books, pencils, chalkboards, and calculators have enhanced schooling systems… but even more so. image: US Army Africa

15. Students don’t only use their media devices to “distract” themselves. Studies show that they are actually using their devices for practical means. They are not “just toys”. http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/Infographic/225872

16. WHAT KIND OF TECHNOLOGY IS “DYING” IN THE CLASSROOM? (and making students feel like they are?) POWERPOINT! Bad powerpoint interferes with the students’ ability to focus, retain, and learn. image: IOE London

17. A study published in the April 2009 issue of British Educational Research Journal found…… 59% of students reported that at least ½ of their lectures were boring ….and that PowerPoint was one of the dullest methods they saw. These professors are “using the program as a crutch rather than as a creative tool”. The survey consisted of 211 students at a university in England and was conducted by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire image: blogefl

18. This “BOREDOM” is affecting the students’ marks: Students who say they are frequently bored are more likely to do poorly on tests, according to studies. image: emokr

19. SO WHAT IS WORKING? Learning on demand! image: bionicteaching

20. image: PVCG SO WHAT IS WORKING? Learning on demand: “The Power of Podcasts” It has been proven that podcasts lead to increased student involvement; they don’t keep kids from going to class. Students do a combination of going to lectures, watching them on tv, and watching them on their iPods.

21. In one review of technology uses in the classroom, students accessed the podcasts of one class over 2,200 times: Why? - some students want to hear particular segments over - some didn't take adequate notes at the time - some are auditory learners who learn more by listening than reading - podcasts can help those with writing disabilities - they also help those who speak English is a second language image: iMorpheus

22. image: jennaddenda "Before, I was always complaining that I never had time to go in-depth and talk with my students. Now they come in actually much more informed about a subject than they would have if they had been assigned a reading.” - Maria A. Dixon, assistant professor of applied communication at Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas)

23. image: English106 WHAT ELSE IS WORKING? Learning on demand. The “backchannel” : ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA “Social media, once kept outside the school door, can entice students who rarely raise a hand to express themselves via a medium they find as natural as breathing.” - Erin Olsen, high school English Teacher (Sioux Rapids, Iowa)

24. If they are texting on-task, they are less likely to be texting about something else. image: pjguyton2002

25. image: bionicteaching Google Moderatorlets a class type questions for the instructor and vote for the ones they would most like answered. “You’d think there’s a lot of distraction (by having the class connected online), but it’s actually the opposite. Kids are much quicker at stuff than we are. They can really multitask. They have hypertext minds.” - Kate Weber, 4th Grade Teacher (Exira, Iowa)

26. “Everybody is heard in our class.” - Leah Postman, 17 “It’s made me see my peers as more intelligent, see their thought process, and begin to understand them on a deeper level.” - Janae Smith, 17 image: bionicteaching

27. Most students are already active on social media accounts; they have pre-existing skills that can be harnessed into the learning world. Since courses are available in the same places as their friends, students will be more likely to access these course mediums. image: Brandon Christopher Warren

28. “Integrating social media based assignments into coursework pushes the digital literacy envelope.” - Sidney Eve Matrix, Professor at Queen’s University (Kington, ON) This is beneficial because of the increase of social media’s relevance in the job market. image: I Don't Know, Maybe

29. user-generated content = engaging = easier for students to remember = success “This creates an overflow effect: encouraging students to spend more time with the course than they would without social media plugins.” – Sidney Eve Matrix, Professor at Queen’s University (Kingston, ON) image: thorinside

31. tweeted events on campus

32. tweeted ideas between students/instructors

33. tweeted tutoring opportunities between students/instructors

35. can allow students to have live study sessions online with their peers

38. 17% experienced cyberbullying in 2010

39. 28% received unwelcome text messages

40. Teacher Ashley Payne lost her job after posing for pictures with alcohol

41. 3 US teachers were fired in the past 6 months for having inappropriate conversations on facebookimage: FindYourSearch

42. What can we conclude about these cases? These individuals clearly weren’t careful with how they conducted themselves online. Ashley Payne’s pictures shouldn’t have been viewable by people who were not her friends. The US teachers who were fired for having inappropriate conversations on facebookwouldn’t have been fired if they weren’t posting inappropriate content to begin with. If teachers were receiving unwelcome text messages, this means that their phone numbers were either given out to their students or they were listed online… again, this emphasizes the need for proper social network privacy settings. If teachers are being cyberbullied, their students clearly haven’t been taught the consequences of it; it is a relatively new form of harassment image: Nima Badiey

43. The York Region District School Board is embracing the Literacy@School initiative to integrate technology use in the classroom. Schools part of this initiative are aware of online codes of conduct that are appropriate for children and adults alike. All schools should adopt similar teachings to ensure that students and teachers are safe online. Signs are posted in classrooms urging users to “think before you post”. image: nooccar

44. “Sometimes educators are blinded by the fact that these are toys, but for these kids, the novelty is over.” “In a traditional classroom, you get the same kids all the time waiting to answer questions. This way I hear from everyone.” “It doesn’t replace good teaching. It’s a way to improve it. Students can pursue their interests. It’s passion-based learning.” – Royan Lee, 7th Grade teacher at Beverly Acres Public School (Richmond Hill, ON) “Sometimes educators are blinded by the fact that these are toys, but for these kids, the novelty is over.” “In a traditional classroom, you get the same kids all the time waiting to answer questions. This way I hear from everyone.” “It doesn’t replace good teaching. It’s a way to improve it. Students can pursue their interests. It’s passion-based learning.” – Royan Lee, 7th Grade teacher at Beverly Acres Public School (Richmond Hill, ON) image: familymwr

45. “paperless classroom” = potentially bettergrades One history department has been “paperless” for 3 years. They do essays, tests, and even exams on computers. “It’s hyper-efficient… and their marks are better than when they were tested on paper.” – Mark Melnyk, Head of History at Markville Secondary school (Markham, ON) This shows how the thinking of this generation of learners differs from those of past years. image: David Masters

46. image: alancleaver_2000 “The old approach to history is well – history. If they ever need to know details such as when Sir John A MacDonald was born, they can grab the answer in seconds. What’s more important to know is why he made the decisions he did.” – Mark Melnyk, Head of History at Markville Secondary school (Markham, ON)

47. “The elementary classroom of the 21st century seems to be all about contrast: a blend of old and new, work and play, innocence and sophistication.” “When we hand them this piece of technology, there’s immediate engagement.” “IPods and iPads are great for this (kindergarten) age because children’s fine motor skills aren’t developed yet. They can focus on writing a letter, not struggling to hold a pencil.” – Heather Jelley, Kindergarten Teacher (Keswick, ON) image: tartanpodcast

48. Apps help students learn in class and on-the-go: Dictionary.com-dictionary and thesaurus World Wiki - detailed facts on 200+ countries Evernote-notes and web media organizer Google Earth - mapping and geography tool Units -excellent unit conversion tool Voxy-language learning on the go Stanza - notes and web media organizer iFlashcards - digital flashcards Miss Spell’s Class - host own spelling bee TED - presentations from award winning speakers Math Drills Lite - master basic math skills image: TocaBoca

49. While advancements in computer technology are welcome by many students, they can be lifesavers for those with special education needs. “If what’s happening in the mainstream classroom can be called a digital deluge, then what’s happening in special education is a tsunami.” “If what’s happening in the mainstream classroom can be called a digital deluge, then what’s happening in special education is a tsunami.” image: StephEvaPhoto

50. “There is less stigma now that all Grade 9 students are required to use laptops – those who use it for special needs no longer stand out.” - Joseph Ravesi, Principal at Sir William Mulock Secondary School (Newmarket, ON) image: Bitpicture

51. To educate studentswithout developing their digital literacy is to leave them ill prepared for their futures. You wouldn’t think of educating a student and not teaching them how to read, digital literacy is crucial… image: gilest

52. In the future, if you don’t know how to use technology, you will be ‘illiterate’. image: gilest

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