Always Connected 21st Century Learners
Synthesis
Modern technology has become a topic of concern for many people. The advancement in mobile technology and cheaper access to the internet over the last decade has created a predicament on just how much time we spend online is too much. Modern students are vastly different from their counterparts of the last millennia. Their level of connectedness with phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops far outpaces students from within the last few decades. Children from ages 8-18 years old, spend on average 7 hours per day on some sort of device with a screen (Wilson et al., 2017). Students have access to a wide range of apps such as Tik Tok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, etc., that all vie for a piece of the attention span of young children and teenagers alike. Digital media has become an ever present companion in our modern lives.
Within academia, we must find a way to integrate digital media into our classrooms, our curriculum, and make the best use of technology. Educators must be able to utilize and guide students in the ways of digital media (Wilson, et al., 2017). According to the Center for Media Literacy, media literacy is defined as the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and participate with digital media content, and many students lack the skills to positively contribute to the digital world (Wilson, et al., 2017). Digital medial literacy is part of the foundation of a successful student and education must prepare educators to be facilitators of that literacy. This will allow students to think more critically in their usage and creation of digital media
Importance of the Information
According to the 2018 SREB Report, digital literacy will be fundamental skill set needed from early grades through college to be fully engaged and take advantage of "technology-mediated learning opportunities" (SREB, 2018). Schools must be able to adapt and to adopt digital literacy skills early on in education to allow children to grow in to those new skillsets. Digital and media literacy must be seen as equal to reading, writing, and math as a necessary component of education (SREB, 2018).
Utilizing digital media in and out of the classroom is an everyday activity and being able to access, evaluate, manipulate, and develop information will be a lifelong skill (SREB, 2018).
Digital Literacy skill are necessary to create an "informed and productive" populace and will act as a gateway into social, political, and economic circles (SREB, 2018). Many employers now require digital skills for open positions. Developing digital and media literacy early on in life will allow students to make better decisions and find better employment opportunities as more and more employers seek out those skills (SREB, 2018).
Needs for Better Understanding
Due to the nature on modern education, I need to learn different techniques of integrating media into the classroom and into my personal curriculum. The vast majority of my students bring their own digital devices - phones, tables, laptops, etc., into the classroom and constantly use them during class. I encourage the use of the devices as different students learn using different methods and being able to take advantage of that device and provide digital content is beneficial to the student and their retention of the material. It also allows me to streamline my delivery of material and maintain up to date information that can be accessed almost immediately.
Future Reference:
Works Referenced:
Southern Regional Education Board. February 2018. 10 Issues in Educational Technology.
Wilson, D. K., Alaniz, K., & Sikora, J. (2017). Digital Media in today's classrooms: The potential for meaningful teaching, learning, and assessment. Rowman & Littlefield.
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