Being Digitally Aware!..

Dear reader

A few years back, while working on an assignment, I happened to delve deeper into the scope and content of integrating technology in the classroom. With my limited knowledge and experience of digital world, I began my journey and started exploring tools and even interacting with the educators around the world. The never ending conversation on the contextual learning and what is more important for the students to know in this era became the most intriguing experience for me. However, I do not claim that I have done  much work in this area, but I surely possess a great interest and passion to bring about the awareness in the student community, to be cautious, careful, and balanced while stepping into this digital territory.

Time flies so quickly. I remember in 2011, students in the class, were given an exposure to different tools for presenting their work. They were learning to operate their devices and trying to make sense of the information available on net. On the other hand, teachers used various backchannel tools to record students’ responses and their questions. Also, looking at various means to make the ICT integration more useful and contextual for the students. The thrill and excitement in students was unbelievable.

And now when I look back, it seems we have come a long way and there is still a milestone to achieve. I have witnessed a great change in students and teachers understanding about this small world of technology. An exposure of ICT as a means to demonstrating through ways of thinking is achieved as compared to mastering of tools. Now, both the communities, students as well as teachers are well prepared and ready to use ICT for language and skills development.

But is that what we all want? Is that what we are looking for? The simple answer to these question is Not really. We all know that living and working in any society comes with both rights and responsibilities. Thus, simply teaching our young students how to use different tools or technology is never going to be enough; we must ensure that they also learn to use it more wisely, ethically, safely, and responsibly. Teachers and Parents have a significant role to play in raising these young creative thinker in this digital world. It is imperative that children are guided to make informed and ethical choices while acting with great integrity and honesty. In this globally connected virtual world, children must be entrusted to be responsible for their actions. Infact, they should be guided to value others’ rights and to practise safe, legal, and responsible behaviour.

Digital citizenship is a concept to prepare our children and technology users for a society full of technology. Our children grow through an expeditious growth in their learning about many things including technology. They are required to be able to connect and communicate 24/7; they start from playing games on their parents’ cell phones to learning how to participate in a connected digital culture. As we expend more time online, it is critical to understand how to stay safe online. Young people in today's time live in a world drenched with information and supplements. Undoubtedly, children’s inquisitiveness for various devices and their exploration journey about this digital world is quite alarming. They need guidance and support from their parents and teachers to affirm that they make the right choices. It may so happen that their abilities to perform in this information age is beyond their maturity and intellect. Parents must share some time talking to the students about  consequences and impact of their actions.

In the present time, it’s challenging to decide as to how much independence and flexibility to give kids. As parents and teachers, we definitely want them to communicate, and connect more legally and ethically. If our kids are going to shine and prosper with the concept of digital citizenship , we must balance the privacy with protection. Today children requires more autonomy and privacy; therefore they must be guided how to protect their identity and be safe online.

Always be approachable and keep an open mind. We don’t look at the world through the eyes of our children. They have a completely different view about the way things work and move in their lives. And often we get swayed with our emotions and narrow thinking; we don’t help children when we analyse their lives through the lens of a non digital world. It’s important for us to realize that our children will invest much of their lives in a connected world, where everyone will make every effort to create their own mark. As a parent, the most excellent means to encourage our children is to ensure they understand their role as netizens and build on the concept of being responsible digital citizens. We must educate them about the benefits and risks of using technology. Just as we help them to stay safe in the real-world.

At fountainhead, we are constantly endeavoring to achieve our goals in this area and we surely seek your support to make a difference in our child’s life and our society at large.

(Published in the Fountainhead School's Magazine - 2017)

Digital technology a boon or bane

Is digital technology taking over teaching?
It is debatable indeed, but it carries its own limits,
While there is also some opposition to it,
But how can one deny that it's a hit.

Let me tell you,'Technology doesn't change anything.'
It provides enriched opportunities to learn and grow,
Not exclusively for teachers, but for every heart and soul,
With vivacious exploration, students draw the details they want to know.'

Proceeding further, I accept, students are immersed in technology,
They are readily taking on this new mythology,
But did anyone try to find,'what's trending in their classroom?'
Collaboration, Communication, and Creativity are on boom.

Integrating technology into the classroom, isn't it good?
It accommodates students learning with a diverse range of needs
Doubtlessly, it also helps teachers cope with the pedagogical challenges,
Even when it appears we can't sustain the damages.

Going further, just play your part as a digital parent,
And simply do not worry about the technology that is inherent,
The truth that is indeed transparent,
Infact, it provides a scope of lot of transformation that is apparent.

Therefore, be productive producers and consumers of technology,
Which is strengthening economically strong knowledge based society,
Undeniably, it supports the education system in India,
Remember our prime minister saying,'Make India a Digital India.'

Skype classroom - Writing Project

‘WRITING,’ the word itself reminds me of the letters, characters, and scripts and of various other synonyms. It is such a complex and multifaceted blend of skills altogether. However, indeed writing is a process and not a product. Hence, various steps are involved and followed in order to create a refined piece of writing.

Therefore, I planned for global collaboration and a team teaching to help my students get more acquainted with this process. I am grateful to Christopher Tozier, an author of the book Olivia Brophie and the Pearl of Tagelus, for such a noteworthy collaboration.

My class had two informative and engaging sessions with Christopher, where they gained a good insight into the process and the various other elements involved in writing. Through these sessions, they even became more aware of what it means to be an author and the patience, thought process a writer goes through. Indeed, it is not an easy job to gather your ideas and sequencing your thoughts. Well, Christopher and I planned the sessions really well in this direction for our students. We gave our inputs/feedbacks on the drafts created by the students. We will continue to work and collaborate this year until each student is able to refine his or her own written piece and is ready to publish their work as well.

As an educator, I am sure that by the end of this session, students would have developed the skills of writing and will be able to produce their written work independently.

Skype Classroom - Book Review

This academic year is very special for my students and me as an educator. My journey began when I first introduced my students to their  academic goals. One of the goals were to do a book review. They started taking good interest in reading the book and understanding the content of the story. In addition, they practiced putting down their ideas on paper too. However, they  made quite a few  errors and  asked for clarifications, inputs to make their write up more fascinating and interesting for the readers.

Therefore, as an educator, I thought of giving them an exposure towards the online book review. Keeping in mind their oral skills, I believed that expressing their ideas in words would definitely help them understand the elements for book review  better. So, I planned for a team teaching and approached Lisa Cohn. When I shared the ideas and other details with her, she responded positively. We had a detailed discussion on the process of how to go about it and finally, the session was scheduled and students remained engaged and engrossed while listening to her and her experiences as an author. They even interacted with her 5-year-old son Michael Cohn, and were impressed with his love and passion for books.

After the first introductory session, we thought of checking their understanding about the book review and hence made a trial. Well, the students really performed well compared to their writing task. Now going further, we are planning to train these students for the book review in a more authentic and organised manner.

The journey has just begun..

   

Transformation in Teaching Methodology using Digital Media

Which tool am I going to explore today to enhance my knowledge for innovative teaching? What are the different methods I can investigate to exchange my ideas and opinions? These are some of the questions that boggle my mind as a teacher, when I am trying to integrate the ICT world with the 21st century pedagogy of education.

Learners are keen observers; they evaluate the world with the consistent change happening around them. Digital Media - one of the most revolutionary changes of this century - has become an integral part of today's educational system. Newspapers, TV channels, internet, social networks, and people around - all creating a hype and talking about some or the other new device with new technology. The emphasis of this digital media has seeped into our classrooms today.

This year our Grade 5 students explored and experienced some beneficial web 2.0 tools focusing on collaboration, creation, presentation, research, organizing ideas, and planning for their given tasks and assignments. Using Ted and Youtube videos, Wallwisher, Scribblar, Classdojo and Khan Academy etc. are some of the many ways we explore and integrate our learning.

Apart from exploring these creative tools, we had a virtual skype session with Australian author, Ken Spillman, in order to understand the use of digital media - integrating with language. In addition to that, a Google hangout session with Mr. John Graves (from New Zealand) and our HoS, Mr. Vardan Kabra gave our students a variety of perspectives concerning a topic. Students have accustomed themselves to sites like 'Edmodo' to collaborate with each other in a safer social networking environment.

Is is amazing to see how technology has evolved over time - giving rise to new forms of education that we never imagined. Our students are more digitally focused than ever before. There is no doubt about the fact that the type of students we teach today are drastically different from the past century. We as teachers are more inclined to upgrade our skills in order to put forth new challenges for these digitally advanced learners.

As an educator, my journey began when I looked at the teaching profession in terms of the needs of those who are its beneficiaries. I created my Personal Learning Network and enhanced my knowledge while gathering some interesting ideas to execute in class.  I understood what it meant to be a 'Teacher' in today's world. In fact, I am able to deliver 21st century skills that help me connect to my students in a much powerful and meaningful manner. Emphasizing on the fact that this pedagogy not only highlights the age of collaboration, but also focuses on the information age as well. Its truly said,"We have to stop thinking of an education as something that is delivered to us and instead see it as something we create for oursleves" - Stephen Downes.

(Academic Year: 2012-13)

Discovering the potential of blended learning

I feel honoured to share my experience on trying out the ‘Blended Learning Model’ and more precisely this innovative ‘instruction model.’ After attending the sessions, I realized that the concepts taught ran parallel with what I am already executing in class. Undoubtedly, I was able to bring some change in the learning environment that is both challenging and conducive for my students. While introducing various categories under this model, I succeeded in personalizing the learning for my students and was able to provide the platform of mastery based learning. As an educator, I am contented and possess a great zeal of enthusiasm, after evaluating the process of learning.  

Independent Learning Environment

I have introduced various models and strategies in my class in the past, but this time after introducing the personalized learning and mastery based approach, I was able to enhance and ensure my students understanding about the topics and at the same time could stress the various concepts taught in the unit. It is true; in today’s education system, time becomes a variable whereas students’ learning is constant.

ICT in Education

Initially I differentiated students’ learning with more than four workstations where it was difficult for me as an educator to evaluate their performance. However, after exploring and discovering the details about the same I switched over to only three basic workstation a) small group instruction (b) collaborative work (c) self directed online activities. With these categories, I was able to make sure students understanding about the topic and cater to their individual academic goals. Additionally, I feel we should give 10 minutes as a reflection time to the students. This will help the teachers to ensure students conceptual understanding and clarify their doubts if any.

Recently, I have found that the structure of the classroom and the facilities/tools are equally important. Therefore, in this context, I updated the class library, softwares, my personal drive and other classroom displays to make the learning environment interesting and informative for my students.

Making an effective use of various categories under this model, educators entail a vital shift in their role. They facilitate students in achieving their personal goals that will help them enhance their academic performance and behaviour. Further, we facilitators will be able to change students’ academic mindsets through various learning strategies and assist them to improve their social skills too.

In order to enhance their individual learning skills, the experience of virtual class session remained a good exposure for my students. Indeed, after discovering the potential of blended learning, as an educator I am convinced that it plays a vital role in creating a cooperative and personalized learning environment.