Lesson 3: Understanding Technology Learners

Content         

This topic deals with understanding the 21^st millennium learners and the concerns that these students bring to school. It seems like teachers today do not understand these concerns that they blame the internet.

The learners in this information technology age seem to be smarter. Their orientation and kind of environment revolve in sophisticated kinds of high-level technology. Their span of listening ability are getting shorter and only become alive again when video presentations are flashed and during computer classes. Those concerns are meant to be understood by teachers since the kind of environment they have are different than that of the older years. The 21^st millennium learners are digital learners. It is observed that the new learners have much time chatting with friend on phone, texting, and surfing the web than on reading books.  According to the scientists, there are positive benefits derived from the use of information technology or digital resources and these counterbalance possible negative effects of technology on children. Daily exposure to high technology-personal computers, video game gadgets, cell phones, Internet search sites-stimulates the brain by strengthening and creating neural circuits. Also, they say that a current technological revolution, faster and better than ever before. Since these learners are information technology age learners, their preparatory stage are already occupied with computer-aided instruction so as their kind of development stages are of different kind. So, these must be understood by teachers.

Experiences     

           I had lots of experiences having traditional teachers who made lectures all the time. There was this Araling Panlipunan teacher who merely talked while sitting in front like the whole period without noticing her student getting bored. If we think of it, since she was old like around 50, she might not have understood the environment of her students. In this case, learning might not take place. Teachers must really be oriented with technology.

Reflection

If the kinds of learners are like these, information-technology oriented, then, it is really essential for teachers to use technology in delivering the instruction to make learning meaningful and effective. If they prefer reading the net, then let us bring the book to them using the internet. It is therefore, important that teachers of this generation must have seminars and conferences about understanding the 21^st millennium learners and the kind of environment they are moving. As a future teacher, I realized that importance of attending seminars like that to cope up with the continuous technology evolving world.

Application

This lesson can be applied especially for the teachers of this generation in integrating technology to teaching. If these concerns of the students are understood, then proper and appropriate teaching strategies will be employed in the classroom. 

Now that we've understood the technology learners. are we ready to become a technology teacher? Watch this short video :)