Learners are using wireless computers such as PDA’s, wireless laptops, mobile phones, Smart Phones, Tablet PC’s and hybrid devices which include a mixture of mobile phones and tablet PC’s for the ability to connect anytime, anywhere, as long as an Internet portal is available. The PDA was first invented and used in 1980; in education, adaptation occurred starting in the late 1990’s. We are not the early majority since PDA usage is now being used in high schools and elementary Grades. Costs can be minimized since a lot of students already have their own PDA’s. There is no need to furnish one. Grants are available for usage of PDA’s in classrooms. The average cost is about 400 dollars (Dominick, 2002). They have a high mobility which could cause an increase in grade scores. They also have an operating system that most students are familiar with, the “Start” menu.
Wikispaces and blogs can be deployed for collaboration (Mason, 2008,p. 49)
as well as PBL or problem-based learning (Dabbagh and Bannan-Ritland 2005). Actually, in development in the corporate world, we constantly had problem based learning. We just called it an average day. Even, Electronic Mail has a great resource for tracking projects through tasks. Twitter and Skype can keep all members of a community updated and informed.
Siemens sees the instructor as “guide on the side” and leans to the connectivism theory of education (2008). I also see this as a project manager that guides the workers; but ultimately it is the group that does the collaboration and communication. In real life, you learn how to be autonomous and self-directed (Annand, 2007, 2). Why not in academics?
Annand, D. (2007). Re‐organizing universities for the information age. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning 8(3).
Dabbagh, N., and B. Bannan-Ritland. 2005. Online learning: Concepts, strategies, and
applications. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Dominick, J. (2002). Ready or not—PDAs in the Classrooms. Retrieved 01 20, 2010 from http://www.campustechnology.com/Articles/2002/09/Ready-or-NotPDAs-in-the-Classroom.aspx?Page=1
Mason, M. (2008). What is complexity theory and what are its implications for educational change.
Educational Philosophy and Theory, 40(1), 35–49.
Siemens, G. (2008, January). Retrieved on 01 05, 2010 from Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.
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Marcia
ReplyDeleteBecoming an autonomous and self-directed learner is becoming a requirement for success in the 21st century. If we do not strive to learn about new forms of technology and how to communicate and collaborate with others, we will not be able to function properly in any world corporate, or educational. As Cronon (1998) states, “being an educated person means being able to see connections, so that one will be able to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways” (p. 10). We cannot just use technology to make certain tasks easier to do; we must embark on the power of collaboration and learn how to accomplish more by working together. Being an isolated genius is a way of the past (Laureate Education, 2008). We must change our methods of learning from memorization to investigation and cooperation.
Cronon, W. (1998). Qualities of a liberally educated person. In Siemens, G. (2008, January). Learning and knowing in networks: Changing roles for educators and designers. ITForum.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2008). Siemens on Curatorial Teaching. Principles of Distance Education. Baltimore: Author.
You discuss PDA's in the classroom. Do you use them in your lessons? There seems to be much debate about phones in the classroom and how they could be of use. To me they are a distraction and I can't understand how they can improve education; however, I am sure that was once said about computers!
ReplyDeleteThat is also the great debate in my school. However, I am doing my research project for my other class on the use of iPods in education. Maybe if I can find enough reputable data I can get my staff to see the benefits of electronic devices in the classroom. We constantly spin our wheels trying to fight it, but these kids have us outnumbered:) If we can't beat them , we may as well join them.
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