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Participatory learning is the form of learning that occurs through interactions in the public web and with social media, like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Informed by mainstream adoption of social technologies and mobile devices, participatory learning is reshaping the way we learn. Learning is participatory when the outcome is a product that has been constructed through contributions made by members of a group or community.
-Michelle Pacansky-Brock,
Best Practices for Teaching with Emerging Technologies
Today more than ever before, teachers and students both, are communicating using a variety of digital tools and platforms. With so many resources available online, instructors have the ability to provide highly engaging lessons and provide collaborative learning environments. Effective online teachers understand that engaging students in the web is an important part of becoming digitally literate and, as such, learning is not tied to a textbook. As an effective educator who promotes digital citizenship, I have a responsibility to model key ethical concerns in the digital environment. Fostering a learning environment that supports and improves a students digital literacy and encourages them to use technology appropriately will allow them to immerse themselves in their online learning and being a part of the global digital community.
Reflections
Reflections
Where I was.
Where I was.
Navigating the digital world can be daunting for some and easy for others. Today's learners have to focus on critical thinking, cybersecurity, and empowerment as they are preparing to be lifelong learners. We as instructors need to work collectively to teach our students 21st century skills as they are profoundly shaped by the many digital tools and platforms they are exposed to. Beginning a journey to become a lifelong digital learner can be a daunting task, but being a digital learner means you are part of a much larger digital online community.
Prior to taking my @ONE Digital Citizenship course my digital identity was not well established. Through improving my skills, I wanted to reach my students by creating an open, respectful and engaging environment. When I took my @ONE Digital Citizenship course, I understood what it was like to be a student in an engaging and content rich online class. When thinking about digital citizenship, prior to that course, I had not been exposed to all of the different digital identities, interactions, and environments that encompassed digital citizenship. That digital citizenship course expanded my professional understanding of all of the digital resources that were available. It is important that, we, as instructors, think about how we will collectively share information on the web, and how we interact with one another in a positive, meaningful way.
Another area that I was only slightly familiar with was OER. I really like the idea that learners can be exposed to high quality materials at a reasonable cost or even free to further their education. Given the resources available and changing times, students should have equity and access to high quality materials and educational resources.
Where I am now.
Where I am now.
Digital citizenship is a continually evolving phrase that is really about who we are, want to be, and the lasting impressions we want to have on others in this ever-growing digital era. Digital citizenship cannot be looked at just signularly, but we need to look at how each of our actions connect to a much larger global community. We have to remember that the lines between our digital and physical networks may blur, but it is important to be clear about setting and maintaining boundaries.
After unpacking a lot of content, I realized that I have a lot more to learn as a professional in the area of digital citizenship. This really shifted my thinking, and I was eager to increase my knowledge about this topic. Knowing more, I now want to incorporate digital literacies in my courses and make sure I promote a digital culture of advocating that "all of your actions matter."
An additional area that I have just begun to incorporate more of in my courses are Open Educational Resouces (OER). Open Educational Resources allows for social equity and access for students who may not have the money to afford all the materials a course requires. Students need the materials required for the course that they are enrolled in. The rising costs of textbooks have been a barrier for some college students and sometimes the total cost of textbooks is more than some college tuition for students. Students who are in this situation are more likely to struggle, and possibly drop the class or not pass the class because they don’t have the means to get the required materials for the course. I like that OER is online and that you don’t have to wait for a textbook to come in the mail. OER materials would lessen the barrier for more students and improve access to educational materials. This is just one way to solve this problem.
Another reason OER is so valuable is that the materials are freely available and that they can be copied, edited, and shared. One advantage for instructors is that we can use and reuse the same materials for free. This greatly increases a faculty members academic freedom. When a faculty member uses OER, they can feel free to teach the course how they want and without restrictions. I also like that OER has a great amount of resources already built in to its database and that these amazing resources already exist. The great part of this is that you do not need to wait or ask permission to use the materials. You are free to create what you find best to implement in your course.
Where I'm headed.
Where I'm headed.
The @ONE Digital Citizenship class has inspired me to be more digitally conscious as a professional and take a closer look at the many digital tools available to enhance and support my curriculum. I want my students to be exposed to creative lessons that incorporate the appropriate digital technologies and reinforce the content to engage students to critically think and reflect on their learning. Using the correct “netiquette” will provide an environment for students to interact in a respectful way. To support my students better, I will use Open Educational Resources (OER) learning materials that can be copied, edited and shared to better serve all students. As I grow and change, my professional learning network will too. I will advocate for students to leave a positive digital footprint and identity that will leave a trail for future opportunities.
As an educator that sees this topic continuing to evolve, I also want to focus my efforts on open pedagogy. This will allow me to not only make my course more dynamic, but have more open collaboration and teaching practices. One way that I can do this is having my students write test questions. As an education instructor, I spend time teaching about assessment and the purpose of assessing students. By allowing my students to do this, they will engage with the material which will provide them with a deeper understanding of the content. I believe that students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process and encouraged to use a variety of their cognitive skills. The more ways students process material, the more likely they will be to apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information.
Technology opens the door to the world. It's up to us to walk through it in a meaningful and respectful way. - venspired.com
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