Week 13: Using a pedagogical lens, write an evaluation of the
impact this project has had on your own TPCK. Referring to course readings and
your own experiences, include a brief discussion of your views on the social
impact of technology on teachers and students.
The creation of this digital project has enabled me
as a Pre-service teacher to be able to engage and interact with the tools I
need to create an environment within my classroom that caters for all learners.
Throughout this course my TPCK has been impacted on and I have had access to a range
of resources that will aid me in my teaching to create significance and
connectedness with technology for all students.
Personally Ive had a experience using PowerPoint
and Prezi before completing this course so it was an excellent opportunity for
me to use different resources such as Xtranormal and explore the ability of
delivering the content in my classroom in a new and engaging way for students.
My thoughts whilst using artefacts like Xtranormal or Screenr were if I am
intrigued and interested by it, then that tells me it should promote engagement
for students.
For the second assignment I used all of the
multi-modal tools that gained my interest to create Narrative and Significance for
students when interacting with the digital artefact. My partner and I
incorporated iMovie, Screenr, Xtranormal, sound clips, Prezi, eBlogger, drop
boxes and a range of visuals to cater for the diverse needs of all learners.
During the creation of this digital artefact my partner
and I discussed the use of it in a Unit of Work and what stages it would be
appropriate to complete each activity. Therefore we varied the level of
activities to gradually have students demonstrate their technological skills.
This task was enjoyable to create with the up and downs of dealing with a
temperamental platform such as Wix, but it also enabled us to problem solve and
be aware of the different issues our students may encounter when using it. The
completion of this artefact has made me conscious of the different
technological skills I now possess and helped to widen the variety of options
available when I want to deliver creative content in my classroom.
Beattie (2010) once said “The aim of education
should be to teach us how to think rather than what to think, rather to improve
our minds so as to enable us to think for ourselves, than to load the memory
with thoughts of others”. This expresses the idea that learners should be
active members in their education and not just tourists simply going along for
the ride. It promotes the inclusion for students within the classroom to have
an effective voice and create meaning through multiple modes. The use of
technology within the classroom is essential and has to be taken seriously with
the emergence of new technologies within these students world.
Carrington et al (2006) said “In a world saturated
with the multimodal media and texts of consumer society, we must take it
seriously with thought into our classrooms”. This means it is essential to adjust
pedagogical approaches to enable students to make connections between home and
school.
I believe the social impact on both teachers and
students of incorporating multimodal approaches and technology within the
classroom will only strengthen the partnership of the learning process between
teachers and students. The aim as students become technologically savvy is to
enable them to explore the world critically and express themselves differently
due to an enriched classroom context. As students move beyond Primary and head
to High school it will give them the increasing ability to express their
knowledge and grow through the exploration of that technology.
References
Beattie, B (2010). Education in Theory and
Perspective. Explore Higher Education. Retrieved on the 23rd October
from http://explorehighereducation.com/education-in-theory-and-perspective/
Carrington, V. (2006). Rethinking middle years:
Early adolescents, schooling and digital culture. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen
& Unwin.
