Leading Learning in a Future Focused Environment
Angie Simmons
Welcome to my Learning with Digital Technologies website resource. I look forward to working with your school and I hope this resource will be helpful. You can contact me anytime at [email protected] Also visit my professional learning development site to find out more about how I and my team of accredited professional development consultants can help with your school/organisation needs.
On this page we will explore the concept of learning with digital technologies.
So what do we mean by Learning with Digital Technologies?
We know that teaching and learning is made effective by using best practice pedagogy based on evidence based research. Ideas about this have changed as our world has changed. E-Learning is just that - best practice teaching and learning enhanced by the use of digital technologies. Terms for the use of e-learning tools change - we have moved from the use of ICT (Information and communication technology) which focuses on the tool itself to the term e-learning to describe the way that we now look at the learning as the focus and how can the most appropriate e-learning tool can help us with the learning. It is is not just about linking some devices and a few digital activities into your classroom but it is about challenging ourselves to re-think the way we teach and learn, making the most of the opportunities these devices and activities can bring.
Learning with digital technologies is the smart use of e-learning tools, resources and teaching/learning strategies with a blend of face to face and virtual approaches with the aim of improving student learning.
What does that mean for you?
smart use - we need to make clever decisions about what the right approach is for the situation. That's where you come in - you know your learners, your community, your school and your set-up.
e-learning tools and resources - these are the devices, the software, the apps, the infrastructure. These are also the people, the facilitator, the experts in our schools, (not only the teacher but the students too) Resources also include the school-wide vision, the planning and the budget required for e-learning.
teaching/learning strategies - how we plan for best learning enhanced by the use of e-learning tools - which one will be most appropriate - it could be the camera or video, Web 2 tools on the computer, the interactive whiteboard, robiotics, i-Pad, Netbook, i-Pod, or any device which enhances the learning. The layout of the room and access to devices all becomes important for a flexible, student focused classroom where learning is motivating and sustaining. The teacher is the conductor of this orchestra and the most important resource here!
a blend of face to face and virtual approaches - It is about the most appropriate approach for the purpose and actively considering how to make the most of the time and resources you have.
aim of improving student learning. It is not about using the latest fun app, or the coolest gadget, it is about helping the STUDENTS to achieve their potential.
So, what does this look like?
If we walked into a blended e-learning classroom, these are some of the things we might see:
FOCUS QUESTION:
WHAT IS THE LEARNING PEDAGOGY IN YOUR CLASSROOM AND HOW COULD YOU ENVISAGE LEARNING WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES?
Welcome to my Learning with Digital Technologies website resource. I look forward to working with your school and I hope this resource will be helpful. You can contact me anytime at [email protected] Also visit my professional learning development site to find out more about how I and my team of accredited professional development consultants can help with your school/organisation needs.
On this page we will explore the concept of learning with digital technologies.
So what do we mean by Learning with Digital Technologies?
We know that teaching and learning is made effective by using best practice pedagogy based on evidence based research. Ideas about this have changed as our world has changed. E-Learning is just that - best practice teaching and learning enhanced by the use of digital technologies. Terms for the use of e-learning tools change - we have moved from the use of ICT (Information and communication technology) which focuses on the tool itself to the term e-learning to describe the way that we now look at the learning as the focus and how can the most appropriate e-learning tool can help us with the learning. It is is not just about linking some devices and a few digital activities into your classroom but it is about challenging ourselves to re-think the way we teach and learn, making the most of the opportunities these devices and activities can bring.
Learning with digital technologies is the smart use of e-learning tools, resources and teaching/learning strategies with a blend of face to face and virtual approaches with the aim of improving student learning.
What does that mean for you?
smart use - we need to make clever decisions about what the right approach is for the situation. That's where you come in - you know your learners, your community, your school and your set-up.
e-learning tools and resources - these are the devices, the software, the apps, the infrastructure. These are also the people, the facilitator, the experts in our schools, (not only the teacher but the students too) Resources also include the school-wide vision, the planning and the budget required for e-learning.
teaching/learning strategies - how we plan for best learning enhanced by the use of e-learning tools - which one will be most appropriate - it could be the camera or video, Web 2 tools on the computer, the interactive whiteboard, robiotics, i-Pad, Netbook, i-Pod, or any device which enhances the learning. The layout of the room and access to devices all becomes important for a flexible, student focused classroom where learning is motivating and sustaining. The teacher is the conductor of this orchestra and the most important resource here!
a blend of face to face and virtual approaches - It is about the most appropriate approach for the purpose and actively considering how to make the most of the time and resources you have.
aim of improving student learning. It is not about using the latest fun app, or the coolest gadget, it is about helping the STUDENTS to achieve their potential.
So, what does this look like?
If we walked into a blended e-learning classroom, these are some of the things we might see:
- students making choices about what they are learning, where, when and how
- some students working collaboratively on a task
- some students using digital devices, some not
- teachers and students learning together
- an online space where learning is organized and captured
- students articulating their learning and setting goals
- student voice regularly captured and shared
- teachers working with small groups of students at their point of need
FOCUS QUESTION:
WHAT IS THE LEARNING PEDAGOGY IN YOUR CLASSROOM AND HOW COULD YOU ENVISAGE LEARNING WITH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES?
