EDIM 508 Unit 1 Summary Posting

Media Minds: Students’ Use of Media Today

I’ve enjoyed reading your discussions this week. I hope that the readings have better opened your mind to the
use of digital media and technological resources in education. I’d like to highlight some outstanding thoughts
from this week’s discussion.

Amanda- Technology seems to be a double edge sword and as educators we need to help students
master it. We need our voices to be heard so that parents recognize the dangers. Overall, the more educated
we are the better off our students will be and we will be able to give them the appropriate technology to foster
their own imagination and get them to strength skills that they need.

Brandon- I do not feel there are implications for teachers. The only
concern that I have is whether or not the classroom can manage to keep up with the
pace of society. In my experience, the answer is simply no. Things work their way
from federal to state level and then to local. Distribution and conversations must
occur before implementation happens. I believe that the teacher needs to recognize
this reality and begin making changes to the way their classroom not only operates,
but the way in which you require your students to learn

Jacquelyn- That is a great thing to bring up because often as teachers we believe that students will
benefit from the same things that we once did in the classroom, and that isn't true. We need to do what benefits
our students and change with the times. Being a static teacher will not help anyone. Just as our students are
learning and growing, teachers also need to do that to perfect their craft.

Jennifer- I am disappointed in myself for thinking, “I don’t need one more distraction in my
classroom. I have a hard enough time keeping my students attention.” But maybe, I was the cause of their
distraction. Maybe it wasn’t the sticker on their shirt or the crazy pencil they brought to class that had their
minds elsewhere. Maybe it was me. Have I been teaching to the way they have been growing up with technology
all around them? Have I been speaking their language? No I haven’t. I have been cheating them out of better
lessons and better learning.

Jessica- There are implications for teachers to adapt to the change of technology. I find it difficult
to know what the right balance is to use the computer verses paper and pencil. After reading this week’s
material, I realized educators are responsible for teaching students so it is important to incorporate strategies
that will impact the students’ futures like understanding digital literacy. Using technology when it makes the
most sense is the best way for students to practice their digital literacy.
 Jordan- The world today demands that these Digital Natives are fluent in usage at a young age, but
that they can also grasp how to use the technology that is being developed all the time. If we as educators don't
find a way to grow ourselves we are doing a great disservice to our students and ultimately to our own futures.

Katelyn- We constantly have to learn more about digital media and it takes us much longer to pick
up on new information than our young students. The modern world requires use of social media and a whole
new way of communicating. It is interesting that people get frightened by this new way of communicating, and
oftentimes this can lead to frustration. I see this with many veteran teachers and colleauges that I work with. It
can be defeating for teachers when their students are steps ahead of them in terms of technology. As a society,
we need to be ready and prepared for this new normal.

Lauren- Inservices today are filled with new and exciting ways to
use technology in the classroom and there are so many, one needs to remember
to start small and go from there. However, technology keeps adapting at such a
rapid pace that I feel as soon as I have mastered one thing, another has come
along to replace it. This is the struggle that I am currently facing as an
educator.

Lindsey- I agree with you that technology is here to stay and we as

educators must find a way to incorporate this into our learning. Students do enjoy using this because of the
instant gratification. With that being said, using technology in our classrooms is a motivator for students to
want to learn.

Louise- I do think that changing the way we (digital immigrants) think and teach is going to be
difficult. Technology is ever-changing and trying to stay on top of the latest and greatest can be challenging.
The brain of a digital immigrant is wired differently than the brain of a digital native, therefore, trying to think
like that of a digital native could be challenging.

Mario- Teachers today are no longer just teaching kids with some exposure at school age, rather,
they are dealing with kids with lots of exposure to technology starting as early as the age of 2. The students of
today are truly Digital Natives, and we need to be prepared to better educate them. Given that our children
have such great exposure to technology at such young ages it is crucial for digital immigrant teachers to utilize
technology available to them. We need to find ways to incorporate this technology to teach students, engage
them, and keep up with their rapid pace of learning.
 Maura- In this digital age, there are also so many “teacher” social media accounts that make
sharing and finding new ideas so much easier. That is also a reason why I chose to pursue a degree in
Instructional Media. I’m excited and willing to find new ways to reach my students.
While I am enthusiastic about technology, I am also cautious about my students becoming too dependent on
it. I think students need a healthy balance and time away from it as well.

Megan- While that methodology has been around for awhile, the idea
of turning our lessons into “games” is a newer concept. Prensky (2001) likes to
“invent computer games to do the job.” I like to use class games for brain
breaks and reviews, but I only use games to teach content a couple of times
throughout the year. I am going to challenge myself to incorporate more “play”
into my lessons to increase my Digital Natives’ intrinsic motivation to learn

Melissa- If students have difficulty focusing due to the way that digital immigrants teach, what does
this mean for standardized test scores? Are the students’ scores really an accurate assessment of their
knowledge and ability, or did they shut down during lessons taught by digital immigrants because they were not
face paced enough? Could it be that some of our students who seem to have a difficult time learning are just
having difficulty because of the way that digital immigrants teach the content?
It is obvious that technology is not going to fade away. Therefore, if we are digital immigrant teachers, it is our
job to “learn the language”. Incorporating more technology into the classroom can help the digital natives
become more engaged in their learning and benefit both the students and the teacher.

Micah- I find it really interesting when my students ask me a question about something that they
don’t bother to look-up the information themselves, online. My students all have Chromebooks, but they don’t
bother to open them to get answers to questions. I always tell them, “Google it.” I feel like I’m speaking their
language, but for some reason it does not always seem to be their first reaction to use the internet as their
resource. Maybe this is due to the fact that some of my digital immigrant peers (other teachers) are not
speaking the current language of the digital age.

Michael- I have many students who are just looking for something else to do while it's all going on.
I've started to accept letting students to doodle or draw as they watch. I was reluctant at first because you start
thinking that students are unable to take in the meaning or purpose of the video. Nevertheless, reading Pensky
made me feel good about my decision. I felt these students can be able to handle doing both tasks and as Pensky
states they can! It's amazing the ability for such young learners, as I have in kindergarten, to multi-task.

Rikki- Although I am trying to adopt new strategies to teach my students in their language, I am still
not where they need me to be. I am still trying to incorporate many strategies that worked for me as a child,
which may not work for them in this digital age. I am very excited that I was able to find the Instructional
Media program at Wilkes to help me with this journey. With each class I am learning many tools to fill my
toolbox. It will take a bit of time, maybe even years to transition to where my students need me to be, but I am
happy to embrace the change and become the teacher my students need me to be.

Stephen- The idea that one must do research in a library with books and encyclopedias is just not
the truth anymore. In fact, students at all levels are finding amazing research by searching the internet. Instead
of showing the students the dewey decimal system, we need to show them how to properly conduct research
online. As schools begin to employ new strategies like 1:1 initiatives or digital learning opportunities, these
core “legacy” skills that Presnsky write about in 2001, must still be considered in today’s curriculum.
However, these skills need to be integrated with the 21st century skill that will be demanded as these digital
natives grow up in a very different world than our last generation.

Teresa- While I do not really believe that a student can concentrate on a

sitcom while reading a novel, I do believe that music can be very beneficial for students
while reading, especially for those that can be easily distracted.

Valeria- At school my students’ favorite reward is when they get to use the
IPAD mini’s to do ST Math, a math program our school purchased this year. They think it is fun and consider
it a reward, so that it motivating for them. I try to incorporate technology into my lessons that will motivate
and interest them.

William- The strongest message in this article is the fact that teachers of today are mostly
immigrants and the students are natives. The teachers continue to try to pass messages along in immigrant
fashion, while the students prefer the newer, quicker, and more instantly gratifying methods.
There is a disconnect between many of the teachers and students, but there's evidence the transition is
happening. We are headed in the right direction. It just needs to happen at a quicker pace.