Understanding the Digital Generation Teaching and Learning in the New Digital Landscape

Click the book cover to view the TEASe.

Written by Ian Jukes, Ted McCain, and Lee Crocket

Presented by Melissa Eggleston, Mary Margaret Greer, and Kathryn Leisz

BALANCEOne of the main concerns for

digital natives is the lack of face-to-face

interaction.

“This is a new digital world. It is not going to the way it was. We, as

parents and educators, must accept this, because this new world infused

with technology is having a significant impact on the way kids today think.

More than ever, the digital generation needs our guidance and wisdom to help them shape the future for all of

us.“ (Jukes et al., 2010, p.16)We used to think the brain was basically developed by the age of three and that we all thought in mainly the same way. This has been proven to be false because we now know about

neuroplasticity. Unfortunately, of all the things scientists have learned recently about the brain and how it works, very little of it is being applied in the classroom today.

“Younger teachers are also having difficulties because they have spent so much time in (educational) institutions based on 20th century thinking and were consistently exposed to the traditional, full- frontal, lecture-style teaching.” p. 49

“Teachers don’t ignore the skill level of their students because they are mean spirited, but because they don’t recognize the skills this generation has developed to operate in the digital world.” p. 51.

Educators must make an effort to make the digital generation leap.

TOP 7 THINGS TEACHERS CAN DO TO BEGIN TO

UNDERSTAND THE DIGITAL

GENERATION

7. WATCH A CARTOON CALLED ZITS.6. PERFORM A GOOGLE SEARCH.5. SEARCH FOR MUSIC.4. SEARCH FOR WHAT YOUR GRADE LEVEL STUDENTS WOULD SEARCH FOR.3. MAKE A PURCHASE ON-LINE.2. DEVEOP A SKILL FROM ON-LINE INSTRUCTION VIDEOS.1. PLAY A VIDEO GAME WITH THEM!

Time for a shift in thinking…

Are you ready to make the change in your teaching?

Bloom’s Taxonomy has made the shift.

It is so important for teachers to embrace collaborative, risk-taking, question filled, thought-provoking approaches in teaching their material if they want to be effective with today’s digital learners.

COLLABORATION

Collaboration is a skill that must be taught through actual collaborative learning.

“This idea of collaboration goes much further than just personal, recreational, and research use. Mass collaboration is sweeping across the business world, radically altering the way work gets done as it spreads to small and large firms alike.” p. 107

Teaching is now based on communication, and if we can

communicate, students can learn! Visual forms of communication

can portray much more information to students, is more effective, in a shorter period of time than any other form of communication.

The knowledge and skills needed for success have changed due to new developments in technology. We must change our evaluation of that learning. “Process skills are the most powerful skills we can teach our students…it starts a wonderful journey for a young mind because it gives them wings to fly wherever they choose to go.” p.129.

Leadership

Good leadership is critical to keep students and educators engaged in the process to continue navigating our teaching/learning. We must find the balance between digital and non-digital tools in order to help us flourish as 21st century teachers and learners.

 Book Reference

Jukes, I., McCain, T. D. E., Crockett, L., & 21st Century Fluency Project.  

   (2010). Understanding the digital generation: Teaching and learning in the new

   digital landscape. Kelowna, BC: 21st Century Fluency Project.

Images

(21st century skills). November 18, 2014, from URL (image.slidesharecdn.com)

(Bloom’s New Taxonomy). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from URL (jf20.wikispaces.com)

(Boys building blocks). November 22, 2014, from Melissa’s Eggleston’s (iPhoto library)(Chalkboard icon carton). Retrieved November 21, 2014, from URL (glabergen.com)

(Computer and the brain). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from URL (elusiveself.wordpress.com/)

(Hands on keyboard). November 22, 2014, from URL (quovadisblog.com)

(iPad with Info graphics). November 19, 2014, from URL (3.bp.blogspot.com)

(Mrs. Greer’s children collaborating on the rug). November 22, 2014, from Mary Margaret Greer’s (iPhoto library)

(Mrs. Leisz working with students and iPads). November 22, 2014, from Kathryn Leisz’s (iPhoto library)

(Profile of a modern teacher). Retrieved November 18, 2014, from URL (sonyaterborg.files.wordpress.com)

(Teacher Leadership). November 19, 2014, from URL (sunnibrown.com)