Technology
Technology is ubiquitous. We live in a technology enriched society. Pierre Lévy (as cited in Lankshear & Knobel, 2008) stated, “The prosperity of a nation, geographical region, business or individual depends on their ability to navigate the knowledge space” (p. 121). The new generation of children born into this society use technology, modify it, mix it, adapt it, and are connected to it constantly. For education sector to be relevant in today’s knowledge economy, there’s an urgent need to adapt and to adopt technology into its teaching, in order to provide student-centered approach to learning and teaching, which also has economic implications.
Technology Artifact 1 describes my vision for technology and online learning
options in the future of education based on projections on the current trends,
and the exponential growth in the online learning sector of education. I felt that the increase in online learning
will promote lifelong learning for learners of all ages. Also, the education system would gradually
phase in blended learning to maximize flexibility in learning, as well as to
maximize economical use of physical space in the continued growth in education sector.
This vision paper is my personal extrapolation of how I perceive the future of online learning and technology based on some of the readings from the current literature in the Principles of Learning course (EDUC 5001G).
This vision paper is my personal extrapolation of how I perceive the future of online learning and technology based on some of the readings from the current literature in the Principles of Learning course (EDUC 5001G).
vision_statement_on_technology.pdf | |
File Size: | 307 kb |
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Technology Artifact 2. Building my first blog website was exciting, and at the same time, I was a little apprehensive of what problems I may encounter. However, I was pleasantly surprised to be enjoying the experience. Initially, I took the time to get to know the navigation information, and watched the instructional video to understand the basics of building a blog website. Once I started to build the blog and to organize the layout, it was fun trying out different colour schemes, background, and design. To view my blog website created in the Online Technology in Education course (EDUC 5103G), please click on the link provided below.
This artifact showcases my first Blog website created to solicit responses from classmates about various topics.
Blog pages provide opportunity for students to engage in discussions and to post their views in a multimodal format. It is one of many modes of communication available for self-expression for the students using technology.
Technology Artifact 3. Wikiography is a paper written for the Principles of Learning course (EDUC 5001G) that provides insight into the creation, and the process of editing and updating on the course wiki. I find that the accumulation of information over the years by other graduate students on the course wiki produced in the Principles of Learning course provides invaluable resource, which I refer back to on a regular basis throughout my studies at the U.O.I.T. Some of the samples of my contributions to the course wiki are showcased in the intercultural communication and cultural literacy web pages in this portfolio. My wiki contributions for the Principles of Learning course include defining words such as intercultural communication, culture, cultural, ethnocentrism, grounded theory, appreciative inquiry, and Milton Bennett. Wikiography also describes my thought process in the use of technology as a medium to share the knowledge gained with other students in the class as we posted the information on the topics that interested us.
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The link to Artifact 4 as shown above was also used on the Critical Pedagogy web page of this portfolio because of the content relevance. This artifact was duplicated on this technology page to illustrate the efficacy of technology, its use, and its connection and availability to many people.
Reflections
Technology is a tool, a cultural tool designed for human use. Vygotsky declared that "the ability to use such tools, is the hallmark of human consciousness. All higher mental processes depend upon mediation. You cannot act alone. In order to do anything or mean anything or have any kind of relationship with anyone else, you need to use tools" (as cited in Jones and Hafner, 2012, p. 2). Jones and Hafner (2012) added that "the definition of a person is a human being plus the tools that are available for that human being to interact with the world" (p. 2). These tools affect humans at a fundamental level in the way that they allow or not allow us to be able to do certain things. Jones and Hafner (2012) describe these affordances and constraints into five different kinds: "on what we can do, what we can mean, how we can relate to others, how or what we can think, and, finally, who we can be" (p. 5).
The technology artifacts 2, 3 and 4 as described above illustrates different uses of technology such as blogging, wiki, and ScoopIt. All of these uses of technology enabled me to share my findings with other people connected on the internet. These are examples of some of the things that I can do with technology (affordances). By using the technology and sharing what I mean with others, I also relate to others about what I think about certain issues, and what I feel is important because of who I am, or who I can be.
The technology artifacts 2, 3 and 4 as described above illustrates different uses of technology such as blogging, wiki, and ScoopIt. All of these uses of technology enabled me to share my findings with other people connected on the internet. These are examples of some of the things that I can do with technology (affordances). By using the technology and sharing what I mean with others, I also relate to others about what I think about certain issues, and what I feel is important because of who I am, or who I can be.