Week 4

On the Horizon

What are digital literacies? According to Jason Zagami, digital literacies aren't just a means to an end, but the means of survival in today's technological climate. I won't comment on my own survival in the 4001EPS tutorial group, because it's irrelevant, and harmful to my ego. But what can we use in classrooms to ensure each student will leave competent in digital, visual, and multicultural literacies by the end of their primary education?

The Horizon Report offers examples of several cutting edge technologies that are sure to come in handy come graduation day for us third years. Being a digital immigrant myself, it's hard to wrap my wee mind around the proximity of  such technologies... some not 5 years away. In fact, one is already here. And by the time I do toss my graduation cap away, it could be old, used, and put to bed... 

Cloud computing is already seen in some schools everyday. I myself use it already in Google documenting and video tutoring. So there. The Horizon Report says that cloud computing paves a connection to students in remote communities all over the world. Suddenly, conceivably, a lack of resources will soon be no longer an issue.  

Game-based learning. I admit, I judged a book by its cover. My initial reaction was that games were already said for in schools. Teachers use various games everyday to engage children in learning. But no, Stacey, board games just won't do it anymore. Game-based learning is said to be collaborative, open ended, challenge based gaming. Essentially it is an example of a constructivist pedagogy. Think of how many students go home to play a video game for hours on end. What is it about digital gaming that so enthralls them? And why hasn't this secret been uncovered and implemented in schools?  In a few years, it may well be.

The 2010 Horizon Report states that "Augmented reality has strong potential for...contextual learning". Imagine observing a student reading a book, and then scanning his reading records, scores and areas for improvement simultaneously. No need for extensive planning of all student's special needs or level of skill. Augmented reality will allow teachers to cater for everyone almost immediately. What will it mean for history, art, SOSE and science lessons when augmented reality aids a school excursion. I can't imagine walking around a city and viewing a layer of information about everything you see simultaneously. It's like an external brain of trivial information, and I, for one, am rooting for this technology to take off.  

The 2010 Horizon Report gives endless evidence that it is not about the technology, it's about how we use it to teach students, and teach students to use it. 

References:

 Johnson, L., Smith, R., Levine, A., and Haywood, K., (2010). 2010 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.