“Technology” has always impacted education. Take the printing press of the 1400s-- it allowed for the development of textbooks! Technology has quietly changed the way we work, play, and think. Today’s technology is transforming curriculum globally. The “research” shows that technology integration in schools positively affects the learning process-- both achievement and academic performance. Consequently, it is incumbent upon educators to embrace technology.
The learning styles of digital natives are different than those of immigrants. Traditional instructional methods do not meet the needs of the 21st Century learner. The 21st Century learner thrives on and craves technology. Thus, technology must be integrated into the classroom because digital natives pervade our classrooms! But can technology be used to support higher level learning?
Certainly technology can be used to support higher level learning!!! It can be used to support all of Gardner’s intelligences. For example, a musically “intelligent” person can be supported technologically through CDs, DVDs, interactive books that have audio elements, digitized singing and instruments, music composition software, etc. The “naturalist” benefits from online dissections as well as virtual field trips to national parks and landmarks. Technology supports Gardner’s intelligences as well as allows learners to use higher level thinking skills (think Bloom’s Taxonomy). The higher-level thinking skills require students to “synthesize,” “evaluate,” and “create.” Technology most definitely allows for such higher level skills through blogging, publishing, video casting, podcasting, moderating a blog, etc.
Over the last several weeks I have been reading all I can about technology so as to best integrate technology into my classroom. I have been scouring the internet for ideas. This week I taught myself how to use two Web 2 services- Voki and Blabberize. I enjoyed learning about them as well as creating "avatars" to motivate my students and improve their comprehension. Both services can be used to do a quick review or introduce a topic. I see how they grab the students' attention. I also believe both can be used for higher level thinking skills. For example, students could create their own avators to present an analysis or evaluation of a text.
If you're looking for something new try Voki and Blabberize (see the links below)
http://www.voki.com/
http://blabberize.com/
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