Pedagogy Before Technology

 

       Education is one of those professions that changes each year, seeking to improve based on data collected from previous years. Administrators and district level workers use technology as a means to gather test scores, progress checks, and keep track of the overall improvement of students. On the teaching side, technology is integrated more and more into lesson planning, the curriculum, and with student activities, which is something that wasn't used to the extent it is now. Students today see technology in a different way than they did two decades ago, and as education continues to be modified, technology will continue to become relied on more as a means of education. Take Bloom's Taxonomy as an example. The hierarchy of learning has been modified from its original design to incorporate technology vocabulary and can continue to be updated as technology develops. Continuing with this trend is important as it seems to be the way the world and education is headed. However, I don't think technology should be the foundation of learning, but rather remain as a tool to be used in a variety of ways. This reliance on technology is important to librarians as well because their primary job is to help facilitate research and cultivate an environment where students can ask questions that interest them and then guide exploration into those topics effectively and thoroughly. 

        Technology has developed at a rapid pace throughout the last 25 years, and has changed into something that students used on occasion in the classroom to it being their main tool for learning. As education relied more heavily on technology, changes needed to be made to the pedagogy. One of those changes was updating Bloom's Taxonomy vocabulary. Initially, the six levels were created by Benjamin Bloom in the 1950s, but were updated in the 1990s to incorporate digital based vocabulary such as "blog, remix, and programming" to integrate technology into learning (Bloom's digital taxonomy). Andrew Churches' wrote in depth regarding Bloom's Digital Taxonomy in 2008 to even update it from the revised 90's model, which further shows how much technology has advanced. Churches' includes social networking, twittering, texting, and other digital means that have grown increasingly popular (Churches). This change isn't just seen in technological terms regarding  the pedagogy, but also with the students.

        Initially, technology was only slightly incorporated into schools. Maybe the teacher took a class to the computer lab to learn a new skill or when tablets became big they would use them in the classroom so that the lab came to them. Students now use technology consistently and constantly. Almost every lesson incorporates technology and students have Chromebooks that act as their guide, their textbook resource, and their submission platform. The high school class of 2019 was familiar with and have always had Apple, Facebook, Google, Youtube, Smartwatches, and Snapchat (The first Marist...). While the high school class of 2023 is familiar with the same platforms, and some could argue even more adept with them, they also have consistently used ChatGPT and other AI engines (Class of 2027). AI has been an increasing problem in the education world with students resorting to its use to complete assignments. On the other hand, AI has also been incorporated into the pedagogy by teachers using it in their lessons so students can check their work, get quick feedback, and teachers can save time by having it create question banks. The developments between just four years just shows how much technology is continuing to grow and how students view its use in education. Students are continuing to become more familiar with technology and many see it as a necessity rather than an option. Technology has become so normalized in the classroom that students don't even know it was like before having this reliance. They've always taken their state tests on Chromebooks, they've always had google to answer a question, and they've always had to submit their assignments to Canvas or Schoology or Blackboard. This reliance has turned technology from a tool to enhance learning to a necessity that students need in order to pass.

        Even though technology has become the basis for learning across almost all ages, it should be a tool used to support the learning process. Maybe one day it could be the foundation, but how it is being used now is not helpful for learning, but rather just passing the class. This is not to say that every school or teacher uses technology incorrectly, but on the large scale, it's become a dependency. Bloom's Taxonomy added words in the 90's to integrate technology, but the student themselves still needs to be able to remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create (Bloom's digital taxonomy). Right now, students are using technology to get by without fully immersing themselves in the learning process. This affects librarians too, not just teachers. A librarian's primary job is to create a safe environment where patrons are able to explore a topic of interest and receive guided help if needed. Librarians want to develop self-motivation and fuel curiosity for students that will continue to guide them in life. Technology is very helpful in doing this by creating better accessibility, including more resources in the collection, and making cataloging, tracking, and gathering data on resources very simple. However, if students aren't using technology as a tool, it could hurt their development and willingness to use it in the future. Also, if students don't see the benefit of exploring their curiosities and finding their own answers to their questions, then it could create negative feelings toward learning in general. Either way, in an ever-changing environment one must be okay with flexibility.

        One thing that is true regarding pedagogy and technology is that it will evolve again. Librarians, teachers, and administrators will have to continuously adapt and change the way learning occurs with the current trends. Kathy Schrock is one example of an educator who has been incorporating technology in meaningful ways and then sharing her ideas on the internet for anyone to read and use. She's been doing this for over 40 years and provides " ideas for the use of educational technology in support of classroom instruction." (Kathy Schrock). There are educators incorporating technology the right way and even going beyond and sharing their knowledge with others so that everyone can continue to improve. Having technology in the classroom isn't a bad thing, but right now teachers and students are using it two different ways and regard it in two different capacities. Educators see it as a means to supplement the learning process and students see it as a way to quickly get an answer. 

References

Bloom’s digital taxonomy. Common Sense Education. (n.d.). https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/blooms-digital-taxonomy

Churches, Andrew. (2008). Bloom's Digital Taxonomy. 

Class of 2027. Marist College. (n.d.). https://www.marist.edu/mindset-list/2027

Kathy Schrock. (n.d.). https://www.kathyschrock.net/home

The first Marist Mindset List is released. Marist College. (n.d.-b). https://www.marist.edu/w/marist-news-the-first-marist-mindset-list-is-released