Digital Badge A: Chapter 1

The textbook discusses the term "digital childhood"(p.3)  in relation to children under the age of five. Before even becoming school aged children are spending hours of their days engaged with technology. By the time children are attending grade school, the average child is spending nearly their entire day indulged in some form of media when they are not physically at school. As a future teacher, I find this to both inspiring and intimidating. Being born into a digital childhood, gives today's students many advantages previous generations lacked. Looking back on my own childhood, I can recall wanting to type up stories I had written for school, so my mother would let me use her type writer. When I was in third grade, in 1993, my parents had finally purchased a computer for our household. While we had no internet connection, the introduction of the "backspace" key into my life, as I can recall it, felt nearly as exciting as how my own children appear to feel when they get a new app! While reading Chapter one of the textbook, I had the tune of a childhood song stuck in my mind. The lyrics are “…I've got the whole world in my hands, I've got the whole wide world in my hands...” Students of the 21^st century have unlimited access to nearly the entire world when they simply hold an Ipod in their hands. The readily available technology inspires me to fully incorporate as much media and technology as I can in my future role as the teacher. What better way to fully engage today’s students in learning than with a medium that has been part of their development since infancy.

My own children, Andrew (8 years old)and Aubrey Jo (8 months old)
playing together on the Ipad.

The textbook refers to a teacher’s “digital identity” (p. 15) as their ability to practice their technology talents and competencies. I am in the beginning phase of building my digital identity as it applies to educators. In my personal life and previous professions I have been using a moderate amount of multimedia tools. Incorporating social media sites like Facebook, email, my Iphone, my Icloud, online class work, Mp3 players, my digital camera and above all else the internet into my day to day routine. I look forward to expanding my digital identity in order to better serve my future students. The more knowledge I acquire, the more skills I will have, and the better I will be able to reach my students, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. I am excited to learn more ways to stay connected with students once the last bell rings and school lets out. I mentioned before that I find the “digital childhood” era to be intimidating. I am hopeful that through my studies, and practice, I will gain confidence so I can lead the “digital child” after building my own “digital identity”

“Mark Prensky defines “must have” technologies…listing 132 tools for teachers to use with students for learning” (p. 12)  I need to start building my “must have” technology list.  I realized that I use so many technologies presently as a student, that I already have a basic idea of my goals for later applying technology to teaching. I want to be able to use social networking to involve my students family with their child’s learning. Other “must haves” I look forward to include: smart boards, podcasts, digital photography and videos, Mp3 players, e-readers, and tablets equipped with fun and engaging apps.

Becoming a teacher in the 21st century requires incorporating technology, both familiar and otherwise, into the classroom and beyond. Today's children are growing in a technology influenced world and as a teacher I will be responsible to grow with them and lead them. I still have much technology to familiarize myself with in order to become the best 21st century teacher I can be and I am excited to learn. 

Resources:

Maloy, R., O’Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2^nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.