The NMC Horizon report explains the trends, challenges, and importance developments in educational technology. The report has three sections within technology implementation such as what key trends are accelerating, the significant challenges and the important development in educational technology.
In today’s society, technology has become very universal. Within education, it is vital for educators to understand this updated technological progression. It is an essential change for enhanced learning approaches for all students from Kindy to Year 12. For this movement to progress, educators can agree with a more flexible approach for better learning opportunities. These opportunities can include greater focus on connecting real life experiences with the curriculum, to support fluency of student engagement within classrooms. From my own personal experience, hands-on activities produce more active students. The report emphasizes on this topic as it focuses on the opposite of traditional practices and activities. It is the power of collaborative learning approaches within the classroom. I believe activities that result in achieving a particular goal have greater effects of promoting students performance. I strongly agree how the report discusses the significance of creating authentic learning opportunities. The in cooperation of real life experiences within classrooms retains student’s education, their careers and other significant practices in the future. For example, educators who use familiar technological devices with their student’s supports school goals and interests. The development of personalizing learning adds to the fluency of student’s engagement. Tools such as educational apps can measure this. This data can show how a student learns and daily responds based on their needs. Educators can use this data to work on areas of improvement to ensure maximum potential. IPads are a great resource for educators to collect this data on. The use of iPads can be easily accessed within classrooms. Whether they are used in a early childhood setting or upper primary, it can be on an appropriate level to match the classroom setting (Powell, 2014). During my two-week practicum, my classroom had the opportunity to complete a Coding workshop. Coding is an organisation to help students experience computer science. It offers twenty lessons over the course of two terms, which is supported by subjects such as Mathematics, English and Science. Within the report, Coding relates to STEAM learning as it consists of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Coding is a trend that is rising in schools lately and in the future; it also generates a large amount of skills using technology. Melville Primary School chose the year 2 classroom to experience a trial. Every child enjoyed it thoroughly and even the parents saw how great and the educational benefits of this workshop. The school went ahead and organised a time slot for an hour of Coding each week for two terms. The Coding team had a great set up, they used Mac software and had a one laptop between two children. At the beginning of each workshop, a member of the team explained to the class what was their reaching goal for the lesson. During each workshop, the children were able to practice their effective communication skills with their partner, as the activity requires students to work together. The activities included a range of sequences, algorithms and problem solving. All students knew their limits when using the laptops. After the last workshop of the term was completed, the Coding team presented students a certificate and congratulated on their efforts. Helen, the classroom teacher, had a discussion with me about how technology shapes her students involvement within the classroom. Helen also explained how quick and easy it was to monitor the student’s progress using iPads in the classroom activities. Although, she explained how it is best to ease technological devices into the classroom setting as some children became easily frustrated with it. She also discussed the importance of having a balance and not relying on technology all the time for classroom activities. Essentially, having an insight about how technology is used and developed in today’s classrooms was very interesting. Seeing it from the perspectives of the teacher, students and parents gave me a lot to think about how I as a teacher will in cooperate technology into my classroom within the future. It also recognised the difference between modern and traditional activities in the school day. By observing the school, classroom and students, technology plays a huge role in the development of student’s and their education. Referencing Powell, S. (2014). Choosing iPad Apps with a Purpose: Aligning Skills and Standards. Teaching Expectional Children, 47(1), 20-26. doi:10.1177/0040059914542765 http://cdn.nmc.org/media/2015-nmc-horizon-report-k12-preview.pdf
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