Week 27 Trend influencing education in New Zealand or internationally.
Trend influencing education in New
Zealand or internationally
The
trend that captives me the most is how technologies create positive and
negative impacts to our society we live in and furthermore our education system.
In 2016 the OCED stated “New technology can be a double edged sword with many
positive impacts, it can also give rise to previous unknown risks and dangers’
(OCED, 2016).
The
rapid rate in which technology has developed and change society I believe in
the last decade has now meant that technology is firmly imbedded in many facets
of our everyday lives and including my own. We have these devices and technologies
for purpose or pleasure. I frequently use technology, for example my fit bit
watch monitors my heart rate and how many hours I slept. My smart phones allows
me to connect to communities in various ways, speaking to family and friends
overseas, or connecting to my students in the conversation box in Office 365
Group app.
 |
| Diagram 1: OCED (2016) Report overall 2013 All Countries had increased user of the internet, New Zealand was at 85% of the Population up 10% from 2006 with 75%. |
The
relevance for me is that technology such as the internet is constantly in my life and is now
becoming increasingly bedded in our practice as teachers and for our students
as 21st Century learners. It is mostly seen as a tool to enhance
student learning and develop our learning as teachers. It allows for the
community to be connected, allows for students to co-construct information with
their teachers, students can have answers at their fingertips and is up to
date.
Greaves, et, al., (2010) reported
the following benefits of using digital tools in the classroom as identified by
students, are the increased access to information for research, problem solving
and analysis, the easier sharing of information and the establishment of global
and local connections. The increased access and use as shown in diagram 1, to
the internet indicates that people have increased number of devices, Parsons
and Adhikari (2016) surveyed students with one-to-one devices and found that
57% of students collaborated more and 43% communication was better between
teacher and students.
With technology there is also the
negative impacts on society for example cyber bullying and other cyber-crimes,
creating previously unknown dangers and risks. Net safe New Zealand reported
the following in 2015 there were 13 % involved Harassment or Bullying. Only 14
% Schools approached Netsafe for support and overall in 2015 there were 931
cases of cyber bullying reports have increased 10 cases since 2014. There is
continued ongoing research into physical and psychological long term effects
that device use may have on our 21st Century learners. In Parsons
and Adhikari’s research 2016, students reported, headaches, eye strain and poor
posture. No actual numbers were reported, leaving room for more longitudinal
research.
There has been much debate and again
not enough research into screen time, and what research has been completed is mostly
overseas. The American Academy of Paediatricians were reviewing the recommended
amount teenagers should have since the increasing use of devices.
The negatives mentioned above are the potential challenges faced
with increased technology use in classrooms in New Zealand and Globally.
Schools, the Community, Parents, whanau, need to work together to create 21st
Century learners, who are digital and global citizens.
The New Zealand Curriculum allows for flexibility in teaching and
learning in our schools, this does mean that digital technologies as a learning
tool can be used more freely than we do in our programs of study. Trust needs
to be fostered within schools and faculties that technology at times can truly benefit
everybody.
References:
Greaves,
T., Hayes, J., Wilson, L., Gielniak, M. & Peterson, R. for MDR (2010). The
Technology Factor: Nine Keys to Student
Achievement and Cost-Effectiveness.
Parsons, D., & Adhikari, J.
Bring Your Own Device to Secondary School: The Perceptions of
Teachers, Students and Parents The Electronic Journal of e-Learning Volume
14 Issue 1 2016, (pp 66-80). Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/25313097/Bring_Your_
Own_Device_to_Secondary_School_The_Perceptions_of_Teachers_Students_and_
Parents
OECD. (2016) Trends
Shaping Education 2016, OECD Publishing, Paris.
Retrieved from DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/trends_edu-2016-en
Netsafe.,
2015 Digital Challenge and New Zealanders: A
focus on the incidents reports and
queries made to netsafe New Zealand. Retrieved from: https://www.netsafe.org.nz/our-work/netsafe-media-releases/
I agree with your comment that technology is constantly in our lives and embedded in our teaching practice. Our students will need a high level of skills in using technology and excellent communication skills - one of the most important 21st century skills - to relate to and communicate in the digital world and in fact with their own communities. You have highlighted some of the negative aspects that we need to address. There are also a number of incredibly positive aspects of digital technologies. The one most pivotal aspect for me is the ability for families and communities to communicate with each other.
ReplyDeleteMy 90 year old mother in law who lives at the other end of the island is in constant contact with us and other family members via txt, calls and pics. On the other hand if someone in our community needs support (illness, just had a baby, death) the word goes out and people pitch in to help.
I guess the key is to give our students the skills of empathy, caring, respect and connections to their communities to use digital technologies positively.
Thanks Debbie for your feedback and thoughts. Definitely BYOD needs continued and ongoing research into best practice use in learning and also the side effects of using devices needs further investigation. Before I taught I had worked as Geographic analyst using computers and software and developed ongoing neck and shoulder pain for the year whilst working in the industry so I won't be surprised that we will start to see more cases being reported by students/teachers. Perhaps education needs to make sure there is education and occupational therapists coming into our environment to help with these potential issues.
ReplyDeleteHi Steph. The advantages of hand held devices for learning as you state may well be lost in the epidemic of back and shoulder pain- however, I think in five years or so we may be looking back at today with the amusement we have for floppy discs. The Invisible interface with our devices is here already (Amazon Alexa). AI is also here now, and VR headsets will surely come into the classroom. I think we need to look after our teachers better; many are under stress with the constant change that is inevitable in this time of rapid innovation.
ReplyDelete