Blog Post 2

 

In terms of my experience with Microsoft Word, I have been certified in the application before, but this was back in middle school. I still have basic knowledge of Microsoft Word; however, I feel like I have lost my proficiency in it overtime. Using Word in the past has been very impactful towards my learning and my note taking, as it is an easy way to jot down quick notes and write summaries. I have also used Google Docs frequently in the past, but have never gotten formal training in the subject, so I prefer Microsoft Word. I have used Google Docs to collaborate on certain topics, as other people can access it easily and always see an updated version of the document, whereas Word documents are not easily accessible to others. I find that word works better for individual topics.

The ISTE Standards for Educators would include the concepts of being a learner, a leader, a citizen, a collaborator, a designer, a facilitator, and an analyst. I feel as though the most important concept of these would be as a designer. As an educator, it is necessary to accommodate to every child and modify oneself to fit the needs of a student. This includes having the creativity to create lessons driven by the purpose of molding the learning methods being implemented to fit each child. This will ensure that each child will be able to gain knowledge from the lesson, and that no child is left out of the classroom. This is the most important concept to learn as an educator as without this, a teacher is entirely unable to meet the needs of his or her children.

 

I agree with the concept of being a “digital native”. While I feel as though younger generations have far more experience in technology from an early age than their older counterparts, and that they fit the label of being a “digital native”, I do think that they are brought up in a far less technology driven development education than is thought of. Today’s youth still hold value in concepts such as friends, sports, family interaction, and school, all of which have not been replaced with technology. It can be understood how technology presented from birth would nativize children to the concepts associated with it. In terms of generational differences between teachers and students, I have experienced this firsthand. When my first semester was entirely virtual, one of my professors had little experience with the online platform and did not see the value of attempting to fix his mistakes made on canvas. This made due dates and syllabus information very difficult. In the future, I could see my students having more modern knowledge of technology, however I feel as though I will still be able to relate to them in terms of technology.

"Kids Playing" by Duane Storey is licensed under CC BY 2.0