Technology is such a big part of the world in which we live. That is no secret. Virtually every job, company, and industry today, tech goes way beyond programming and equipment maintenance. Many of the jobs that did not require technology use in years past now require certain skill sets. And in many, it’s actually expected to have a handle on the use of technology over a surprisingly wide range of roles. We are an evolving technological society and in many ways have become dependent on its use. With all of that in mind, the question that needs asking is…
How can we, as educators, empower students to use technology to make a positive impact in their world?
Most students use some form of technology on a daily basis. As more and more devices enter the market, students are learning the power that these devices afford them. The ability to text, share messages on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, and surf the web are interesting avenues for students to explore and have their voices heard. It’s these very tools, that if used in meaningful and intellectually engaging ways, can transform the classroom into an interactive learning environment where students feel empowered to make a difference.
Let’s be honest though, it’s not only students who are benefitting from the use of technology; teachers, administrators and parents and are too. I recently read an article by Sal Khan on Fast Company titled, 4 Ways Technology Can Help Empower Teachers And Students. It’s his belief, and I agree wholeheartedly with it, that Edtech should be a means, not an end, to improving our education system. Too often it’s not though. Too often it’s seen as the problem, and not the solution. In his article, Khan points out 4 ways in which that goal can be achieved.
1: Empowering teachers to provide more focused, personalized instruction
2: Providing space for social and emotional learning
3: Giving teachers a window into what’s working
4: Reaching more students in more places
Let’s discuss each of these points.
Often at school I hear teachers complain that when computers are added to the lesson, student attention is diminished. I’m sure that is natural, we are all inquirers at heart and want to tinker with things that are in front of us. But often what is forgotten by those complaining is the nature of the lesson itself. Was it actually engaging enough to get your students attention in the first place? As mentioned in Khan’s first point, if you take the time to find, create and share high-quality content via technology, then you will free up your time for innovative experiences and focused interventions with your students.
Technology is not only a tool, but an important catalyst to enhance STEM education. Skills such as metacognition, critical thinking, persistence, and self-regulation can all be developed through engaging activities that have purposeful design. I see these skills demonstrated every week in my LEGO EV3 robotics classes. These activities are great for social and emotional learning.
Remember the old pencil and paper assessments where you had to fill in the bubble? Do they still exist? Although they provided useful data, they took ages to actually score. Recently we completed a series of online ACER assessments with our Year 3 to 5 students. The results were immediate and have provided great insight into our students positive and negative emotions and behaviours. Such results help us to inform our instruction and to illustrate any patterns we may have not picked up on. These technological tools empower leadership teams to help improve student achievement.
According to Harvard Business Review, in the last three years, over 25 million people from around the world have enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) offered by Coursera, EdX, and other platforms. Of course those numbers don’t tell the whole story, but they are impressive. Their research illustrates the possibilities MOOCs offer to change the educational landscape. Courses are reaching large numbers of people, including disadvantaged learners who are more likely to report tangible benefits. MOOCs are demonstrating that open access to learning experiences can beneficial to furthering education and careers.
What else can technology do…
- Technology can be used as a tool for establishing meaningful projects to engage students in critical thinking and problem solving.
- Technology can be used to restructure and redesign the classroom to produce an environment that promotes the development of higher-order thinking skills.
- Technology also increases student collaboration.
- Technology empowers connections.
- Technology…the list goes on and on.
Makers and Coders, by Ross Parker under a CC licence.
All of these suggestions are great at detailing how students can be empowered with technology, but what kind of actions are we talking about?
What positive changes are actually happening in the world through the use of technology?
Of course students are making connections through the various mediums available today. Whether it be YouTube, Twitter, Google+, Facebook or even their own blog, students are reaching out and discovering new ways of doing things.
Vicki Davis, possibly better known on the net as @coolcatteacher, proposed 7 Ways to Empower Student Changemakers in her piece looking at Social Entrepreneurship for Edutopia. I think many of these points can extend to the K-6 classrooms at my school.
1. Encourage Each Student to Map Their Heartbreak
Empower social entrepreneurs by sharing stories of students taking action, and then encourage students to find their own passion.
This can be said about anyone, not only social entrepreneurs. Life is much easier when the fire within is self-started. A good teacher can help ignite those passions making student inquiries more meaningful.
2. Help Students Find Their Voice
Encourage students to converse with a wider audience.
Ross Parker, Director of Technology at ICHK, began Teach a Teacher a few years ago with the aim in mind of having students leading a mini-conference for teachers. The goal is to help teachers improve their ICT skills, whilst exposing students to a new classroom perspective. This has been very successful and something students look forward to each year.
EdChats are another great avenue. When shown and demonstrated in class, students can see the tangible benefits of online collaboration in real time.
3. Empower Social Media Sharing
Empower social entrepreneurs with social media and digital citizenship savvy.
Remind students that it’s nice to be a consumer, but more important to be a producer of content. Get them to share their work online and show them the benefits of getting both positive and negative feedback. Make students accountable. Accountability reinforces to students that someone else is watching them and that what they do does matter.
4. Encourage Students to Tell Their Story to a Wider Audience
Help students craft and edit video to tell their stories.
Read a long story or watch a short video? Easy decision for most people. Find time to teach them the skills, or the places to visit online to learn the skills, and then help them create a unique video that tells their story. Technology provides the opportunity to share beyond the playground.
5. Foster Student Generosity
When you see students rally behind a cause, set up donation platforms to let them contribute and help make it happen.
Each year our Year 3 students visit the waters off Lantau Island (HK) to see the pink dolphins. Up until now, I think some of their ‘actions’ have been misguided in bringing attention to these endangered species. Posters get made, speeches are shared in assemblies, but in the end, not much actually gets done. I would like to bring about real change by starting a school donation platform so that the message does not get lost. By showing students the value of these systems (crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter) then hopefully we can do more than just talk about it.
6. Connect Students to Powerful Role Models for Change
Help students create a plan.
Much like blogging, sometimes the hardest thing to do is deciding where to start or who to connect with. Whether it’s a project, or a just an inquiry, source out the experts who can help you locate the answers or additional resources. With the PYP Exhibition coming up, this is one area where I think Mentors play a vital role.
7. Integrate Social Entrepreneurship Into Your Curriculum
Easier said than done for some educators, no doubt. But if you look at your Units of Inquiry, you may find some that naturally this area of focus. In Year 5, we have students inquire into systems of exchange that can serve the needs of a community. Students are placed into groups of 3 to 4 and are tasked with offering a service or creating a product to sell to the public. Students are responsible for the creation of the idea, surveying public opinion, creating the product/service and advertising it. It’s a lot of fun for students to become legitimate entrepreneurs; along the way learning invaluable skills such as how to use technology to improve their products.
In conclusion to this rather long post, I’d just like to finish with a quote by Eric Patnoudes, Education Strategist at CDW-G, who recently stated in EdTech Magazine
“It’s important that (students) know how to share a document, how to collaborate, so on and so forth,” Patnoudes said, “but what’s even more important is why they’re using this technology or that technology to make learning more meaningful, more authentic and provide a purpose behind the learning.”
Inspired teachers will result in empowered students, so give it a try.