How technology has changed the way we learn

There is nowhere to hide from technology; it is everywhere. It's in our homes, in our work and in our classrooms. The advancements in technology are designed to improve our lives, and we should embrace this. Especially as teachers. 

Some of the strongest pressure comes from students asking ‘this tutor puts stuff online for us – why don’t you?’(Hill, 2008)

 Hill discusses how students expect technology to be used in their education, and they have the right too. I am still a student myself and I expect to use computers through my learning. I expect to be able to go onto my universities virtual learning enviroment (VLE) and have access to all the resources. The use of technology through education should improve the way we learn. 

(Petty 2009) Poses the question, nevermind the dazzle of the technology, the glittering images, and the clever graphics and funny animations – what about the learning? If you don't know how to use the technology to improve learning, then it can just look like a gimic to get students involed, but it's not. The use of virtual learning enviroments allow students to have access to their academic resources whenever they need it. Students no longer need to be in a classroom enviroment to learn. Technology should improve the learning, but it should be a tool that aids the learning, and it's a powerful one. It becomes the question of selecting the appropiate tool for a praticular aspect of the learning. Sometimes this is an e-learning tool, sometimes it's not. (Hill 2008)

If we don’t teach our students how to find trustworthy computer resources, and how to learn from these, then we are not preparing them for real life, or for ‘lifelong learning’, or for progression on to their next course. 

(Petty 2009) 

Petty is telling us that learning doesn't stop in the classroom, or after education. People learn everyday, and as teachers we are supposed to encourage 'lifelong learning'. How can our students become lifelong learners if they are not equipment with the right tools for the job. People learn everyday; using Youtube tutorials to learn how to cook a meal, or reading resources for a new software package that has been installed at work. Students need to know how to progress with the developing technology, and they need to know how to use it for their own benefit. 

 

Hill, Chris  Teaching with e-learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector, 2008 Accessed at: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/books/Book238394?siteId  Accessed on: 24/11/2014

  Geoff, Petty ‘Students learning with computers: e-learning, ICT and ILT’ in Teaching Today: A Practical Guide (Nelson Thornes 4^th Ed, 2009)

My first two weeks at placement

It's coming to the end of my second week at placement and I am really enjoying it. At the moment I have two sets of first year BTECs teaching them the photography unit. They are two great classes. They are all really creative, but I have direct opposites in the class. I have students who are too nervous or shy to share their ideas, and I also have students who are equally as creative but they let themselves get too carried away and lose sight of what they were asked to do. In a way I'm kind of like that this has happened because it challenges me; 

1) To encourage the nervous to be believe in what they can do
2) Rein in some students and help them use their creativity in a more constructive way

My first real lesson with both groups was at the beginning of this week. I get to see the groups twice a week which is really good. My lesson was on the Digital SLR, ISO, Shutter Speed and Aperture. Which I think is a really hard topic to teach. I never liked the way it was taught to me and I still see how confusing it can be when I explain it to people. But I found this really helpful chart on Pinterest that the students seemed to like too: 

 

For the class I decided it would be better to learn these hands on. So I split the classes into two groups, gave them a camera and let them experiment with the settings and see what they could create. I was so pleased with the result, especially as before my lesson the students wouldn't even pick up a digital SLR.

Don't worry I asked their permission before posting them here. But I was really proud of how creative they were and I wanted to share! 

Hope everyone is having fun!