For my digital media reflection I chose to read and reflect upon Dr. Jacobsen’s ‘Teaching in a Participatory Digital World’ I also chose to present my summary/reflection in the form of a twitter essay (to view my essay click HERE). Enjoy!
Article link: https://www.edcan.ca/articles/teaching-in-a-participatory-digital-world/
Reading Jacobsen’s article really opened my eyes to the true power that digital networks/platforms can really bring to the classroom. At the same time, it also shed light on the fact that school are not using digital networks to the fullest of their potential, and further transformation can be made to take full advantage and enhance the learning experience for students. Before reading this article, and even after my first practicum, I found myself feeling very ignorant in terms how new technology is used in the school systems. I think one of the most powerful aspects that digital networks provide is the ability to collaborate for both students and teachers. Collaboration allows for critical reflection and development, and provides a sense of community for students to share and critique each others ideas. Thinking back to my undergrad, I would meet up with friends to throw ideas around and to tackle problems I had with the material before almost every midterm, and this was always hugely beneficial. Looking back at my experiences in secondary education, most of these networks were not available and learning was dominated by overheads and templates/handouts. I feel my learning could have definitely been enhanced by the available technology today. This is a big reason I plan to integrate these tech options into my teaching pedagogy, doing everything I can to maximize my student’s learning experience. I think the importance of continuing education was also stressed in this article. Technology will never stop advancing. When I think back to my experience with tech in the class room, it went as far as the SMARTboard. This was a big deal, and today, seems almost obsolete. As professionals, we have been learning for the past 20+ years of our lives, and we will/need to keep expanding our knowledge for the next 30.
One prominent issue is the use of filters and restrictions in schools today. While these methods are place for students safety, they may also be limiting the power social media and tech networks offer for students and teachers. Jenkins explained that it would make more sense to allow students full access in a school setting where they are surrounded by professionals who can help them understand and unlock the full potential of such platforms. I think this is a very valid point, while most of what students use social media for is personal, allowing teachers and students full access could aid in the transformation to more effective participatory environments. This is a concept I never really thought about before, and I think it’s mostly because when people hear ‘unrestricted’ they automatically associate the negative that free access to the internet could bring into schools. In my experience, students will always find a way around these restrictions, so why not embrace them and do the best we can to educate them on the positive effects technology can have on their education. We need to bridge the gap between educational systems based on standardized testing and the educational system we hope to enforce with the help of the brilliant networks and collaborative opportunities digital technology can bring.
I chose to complete my reflection in the form of a twitter essay. This was very new to me, as I have not been active on Twitter for a few years. I felt this method was very effective in forcing me to summarize my points effectively into the allotted character count. I also enjoyed using GIFS to enhance the points I was trying to make. I found it actually made the article a bit easier to read as well. Each time I read what I thought to be a major point, I began formulating a tweet from the info. and this gave me the next portion of my twitter essay. One thing I struggled with was making sure that there was decent flow from one tweet to the next. I found myself starting new threads may have been unrelated to the previous one, and this could cause some confusion when reading through. Overall I feel like it was a positive experience and I would definitely use this method again. Moving forward I’m excited to try some of the other reflection methods and continue to expand my horizons in the world of digital technology.