e-Learning II

What are some characteristics of digital natives? (What are they good at? What are they poor at?)

Good Points:
They have different perspective from us, especially when coming to technologies.
They can multi-task.
They can learn something by just picking out the main/important points of it, without having to focus throughout the whole process.

Bad Points:
They might be too indulge in technologies.
They will believe everything that they learn online, which some might not be true.


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?

I have chosen Sam. She is just a 13 year old student in high school. However, due to her exposure in technologies, she tends to think differently from her other classmates. Also, she will tend to have more creativity than others, with her knowledge of multimedia.

She surfs the net just like a Singapore student, and the websites or games she surfs are quite similar to what Singapore students surf [e.g., Facebook, World of War Craft etc.] One similiarity she has with a Singapore student is that they will explore the online world themselves, always trying to find something new. Another would be that they sms heavily. In the video, Sam says that no one calls anymore. In order to find someone, she will text them. This is one thing which I find similar to a Singapore student in the present.

Sam will always try to learn something out of games, or websites that she explores. She has a trait which is she picks up a new technology easier than others, which might be due to her long hours in contact with technologies at all times.


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

I feel that teachers in Singapore today can first start teaching our digital natives through Game-based learning, as this approach is familiar to them. Also, teachers in Singapore today can also incoporate technologies into their teaching as we cannot deny the fact that the importance of technologies have a big impact in our lives. However, that can work as a starting point to gain students' attention. After students are comfortable with the pedagogy, teachers can start to move students out of purely technologies, but also start bringing students out for field trips so as students have exposure to real-life experiences.


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

It creates a fear in me after watching the few videos of the predictment of the future, as it is quite a shock to see the figures rising so quickly in the advancement of technologies. The future that I foresee in the future should be a society relying on technologies heavily, and manual work might all be reduced, or might not even exist by then. The impression I get after watching the few videos are that the society is upgrading faster and alot more due to the advancement of technologies, but meanwhile, authentic real-life experiences might be reduced along the way.


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

As the future I foresee will rely on technogies heavily, living in the future might cut down alot of outdoor activities as the advancement of technologies by then should be able to provide all information outside the four walls of the classroom. Students in the future might no longer have to be in the classroom to learn content from textbook, but learning content through online information posted by teachers or even researchers. Working in the future might not require staffs to be present at office as all information might be accessible through online, which then staffs might be able to work at home instead.


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

NIE is always encouraging me to keep myself up to date, regardless of technology wise or content based wise. Even lesson plans now, are all presented through IT tools such as ppt, or even blogs. This will help when I teach in the future to relate to my students as they will be familiarize with such technologies.

I prepare myself by surfing on the net at times to find out what are the latest sites that students go to or surf, or find out what students recently are using. These information will help me to understand the mindsets of students better.