E Learning 2

Part A

• What are some characteristics of digital natives?
  What are they good at?

Playing video games, using handphones to sms, talking pictures with all sorts of digital cameras and finally, sending emails are some technological marvels these digital natives are good at. All these can be done by their fantastic multi tasking skills too.

• What are they poor at?)

I think some of them get easily distracted and they need someone to guide them back on track. There is also a need for more flexibility in thinking.

• Which portrait did you select? (In your blog, create a link to the portrait.) In terms of their digital background, how similar was that student compared to a Singapore student?

The chosen topic will be - Dana, who is 9 years old.

She is exposed to the digital age fairly young in life and comparing her to tech savvy 9 year old children in Singapore, we can see that Dana is not very far behind.

• How might teachers in Singapore today engage and teach our digital natives?

Teachers will have to walk the walk if they talk the talk. Traditional textbook teaching methods do not engage students now. Building good rapport by seeing the world through students’ eyes, and using mediums familiar to them like computers, we teachers will be able to teach better and students will learn better. Then, letting students create something with what was taught to them will strengthen their understanding of the subject.

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Part B

• As you look into the possible future of the educational landscape, what sort of impressions, fears, or possibilities crossed your mind?

It seems far fetched. Like how everyone was going about all excited when petrol-hybrid cars were first announced. That was a way into the future for the automotive industry, but look at the roads now, do we see many petrol- hybrid cars? Nope. All I am saying is, whatever is in conceptualized form sounds great. Actually getting it into usage is another thing.

With that thought, I do not know if we digital and non digital natives be ready for it. There are some people who fall behind in terms of tech savvy-ness. My father does not even know how to use his Nokia N95 smartphone to take down notes. He still relies on the trusted pen and paper….. there will be a gap between users of technology and non users.

On the bright side, children now seem at ease with technology. They have handphones while in primary school, some are even using touch screen ones. At home, they have e learning assignments given by their schools and the media is influencing them a lot with its constant broadcasts of advertisements featuring the latest tech gadgets.

• What might living, learning and working be like in the future?

Technology will be all around us in the future.

• How is NIE preparing you to prepare your students for this possible future?

Dr Tan and the friendly tutors at NIE have been hard at work designing the courses for us. The ICT lessons designed by them so far are a good way of learning and having fun at the same time. We understand better when there is no stress placed on us. Children will too. Traditional methods of memorizing and pouring out whatever learnt for the exams is long gone. With the changing of times, teachers will be better equipped with the knowledge of ICT to make lessons beneficial for both parties.

How might you prepare yourself?

I will apply what Dr Tan has taught me and use it in my lessons when I am posted to a school. Of course, I cannot rely on this method alone. Doing some SDL on my own and collaborating with my peers to gain even more knowledge in this field will go a long way in making me prepare for my lessons better. Technology moves forwards very fast, and we have to adapt to it if we are going to become a more tech savvy nation.