Contemporary trends in New Zealand or internationally

Reflection following Rolfe's model on contemporary trends in education (NZ and Globally)

Trend: Impact of digital learning.

Step 1: What?

Dagget (2014) states: "Digital learning is a catalyst for college and career readiness. Today’s learners are digital natives—yet they come to school and power down their devices. As educators, we need to embrace the power of technology to make learning relevant for all students and adults." My current school (that I started teaching at this year) is a BYOD/ digital/ collaborative/ open learning kind of a system. Going from a school that is "old-school" (to say the least) where two of twenty kids in a class may have access to personal devices (which are not phones) and no school wifi for students to access to a school where it is completely the opposite was a daunting challenge. I did not even know if I would sink or swim... This was my main reason for taking up this Mindlab course tbh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

For me, it is important to understand this trend so I can generate benefits from what the students already know and appreciate in relation to something I feel is decreasing slowly: literacy and writing skills. I believe we can use this trend in the English classroom to kickstart or re-ignite learners' writing and reading skills.

Time spent on devices on school vs personal time

Step 2: So what?

Even our current government has realised the importance of impact of digital learning on students in today's environment. This is reflected through the new Digital Technologies curriculum that needs to be adopted by all NZ schools from 2020. Chris Hipkins says about the new curriculum that: “The digital curriculum is about teaching children how to design their own digital solutions and become creators of, not just users of, digital technologies, to prepare them for the modern workforce." (New Zealand Government, 2017).This is in line with what Daggett (2014) also raises: "Using technology thoughtfully for instructional purposes will allow us to stretch learners’ thinking in ways that will lead to success in today’s increasingly global economy and rapidly evolving digital environment."

Personally, I am a fan of anything that can be used to 'hook' our learners, especially boys, to re-engage in writing and reading. I am all for blended learning and flipped learning that can encourage students to be more active learners in the classroom and beyond. I am happy with the support and learning from this course that has gotten me on the right path but tbh, this is just the beginning because what we learn about technology today could be obsolete in three months time. As such, we as educators, need to take the mantle of life-long learners if we want to succeed in this digital age.

TKI (n.d.)Learning with 1:1 digital devices

Step 3: Now what?

Digital learning is a hot trend, in New Zealand as well as globally. Digital technology is something that improves exponentially every few months. Schools need to be proactive when it comes to handling such a controversially essential issue. As Daggett (2014) states: "The schools that will flourish in this new environment are those that embrace digital learning and are willing to disrupt their traditional delivery systems by creating a new hybrid. They will embrace the best of both systems." 

To make sure that we embrace 'the best of both systems' I believe schools need to be proactive and SLT needs to ensure that exhaustive resources and PLDs are available for teachers to 'upgrade' themselves every few months or as the need arises. The Ministry needs to take positive action too with paid leaves for every teacher and relievers if needed so we can go out of the school and update our skills as teachers- we are not growing any younger and all this changing tech is a lot to take in.

We are getting to be an 'older' profession and need more Digital PLD

I wish all the teachers out there all the best in however they are using digital technology in their classrooms: blended learning, flipped classrooms and all. I know this is just the beginning for me: here it goes! 🥂

References:

Daggett, B. (2014). Addressing Current and Future Challenges in Education. Retrieved from 

http://www.leadered.com/pdf/2014MSC_AddressingCurrentandFutureChallenges.pdf

New Zealand Government. (2017). New digital technologies for schools and kura. Retrieved from https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-digital-technologies-schools-and-kura

StuffLimited. (2018). The digital shakeup has arrived, but are schools prepared? Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/100933568/the-digital-shakeup-has-arrived-but-are-schools-prepared

Te Kete Ipurangi. (n.d.). Learning with 1:1 digital devices. Retrieved from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/Technologies/Learning-with-1-1-digital-devices