I am Generation
X:
I am a product of the 70’s.
I grew up with 6 television channels, a bike with banana seat and
matching clothes with Garananimals.
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| DeLaney-Personal Photo |
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According to McCrindle-I
am part of the Generation X-anyone born after the “baby boomers” up until the
late 1970’s. I am a far cry from the
Gen-Alpha’s of today. The only computer
I worked on was an Apple with a green screen and it was at school or the
library. The only phone I used was attached to a cord and hung on the wall in
my mother’s kitchen.
They are
Generation-Alpha:
Today’s students have a completely different outlook and/or
opportunity than I did as a child. Information is at their
fingertips-accessible and immediate. This is now an age where districts are
shifting to a one-to-one technology model, and students are accessing textbooks,
tests, and everyday assignments on their Chromebook.
In the last eight months,
students have gone through another shift in learning-from in-person learning to
remotely accessing classes in every aspect. The Horizon
Report of 2020 states that “higher education doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and
it always and everywhere shaping and being shaped by larger macro trends
unfolding in the world surrounding it” (Educause).
Emerging Technologies
and Practices
The Horizon report narrowed down the list of 130 suggested technologies
and practices to the six most important ideas that will impact teaching and
learning in the foreseeable future.
·
Adaptive
Learning Technologies- online
educational system that analyzes a student's performance in real time and
modifies teaching methods based on that data.
·
AI/Machine
Learning Education Applications- -Learning analytics that build statistical models of student
knowledge to provide computerized and personalized feedback on learning the
students’ progress and their instructors
·
Analytics
for Student Success- the
practice of collecting and analyzing student data to
inform decision making regarding programs, services, and intervention
strategies
·
Elevation
of Instructional Design, Learning Engineering, and UX Design in Pedagogy- Learning
engineers have the skills needed to integrate engineering and systems thinking
with learning science
·
Open
Ended Resources-Materials and information that encourage the process of
exploration
·
XR (AR,
VR, MR, Haptic) Technologies- all
real-and-virtual environments generated by computer technology and
wearables.
Although the Horizon report covers higher education
implications, there is a trickle-down effect to even the youngest of learners. Education
from this point forward will forever encompass a technological aspect-the Pandemic
saw to that. Students will now know and understand how much technology impacts
their education. One of the main points in the conclusion of the report states,
“the main challenges will be to adapt, change and find ways…and to find a
balance point.” (Educause). The statements are made about diplomas and the
importance of educational validity and they apply to not only higher education,
but to every student from preschool to adult learners.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane! You are correct that the pandemic will dramatically change education moving forward- hopefully for the better.
ReplyDeleteHey Alyson,
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting looking through the 6 attached links about how education can look in the foreseeable future. One of the things I found unique was Adaptive Learning. The article by Matthew Lynch stated "Intelligent AL technology accesses the Zone of Proximal Development (ZDP) for optimum mastery of the material. It’s the area where students are not repeating material they’ve already mastered nor challenging themselves at a level so challenging that they become frustrated, discouraged, and reluctant to keep learning. This customized level of difficulty is designed to create smart students who aren’t afraid to solve problems and creatively work out solutions, both in the classroom and outside of it". There are very few programs that operate this way. One that comes to mind that we used when I worked at the alternative high school was LEXIA. Students would pre-test and be assigned a score/level. As they would read passages and demonstrate mastery through answering questions, they questions would begin to get harder. This would challenge the students but still be within a level they could have success.
Hi Daryl,
DeleteOur children learn on a program called I-ready-and it runs similarly to LEXIA-students work through the material and it gets progressively harder until they "max out" their potential. My students (preschoolers) do not work the I-Ready programs-but K-5 do. The programs are designed not to frustrate the child, and only let them work to their limits in the areas of ELA and mathematics. I wonder what the "limits" are for our students who are complete remote learning? I know that for my students, they receive (by choice) 1/2 time in person instruction and 1/2 time remote instruction-this is the best scenario for these students right now...but preschoolers really need to be "in person" all the time, and I look forward to the day when that will be a reality again.
Hi Alyson,
ReplyDeleteI like how you included perspective of what your childhood was like in comparison to this generation. Students today think it is unfathomable that when I was growing up cell phones were not widely accessible. My mother did not have a cell phone until I was almost 8. I did not have a computer in my home until I was a Sophomore in High school. That being said this Generation-Alpha has so much access to various forms of technology from an early age. Even though this generation has access to technology they may not have tech that will assist them with doing school work. I think that this pandemic has highlight how important access is to technology for education. I do believe that this pandemic will have a lasting impact on education.