teaching and learning in the digital age

Robert Bodle, PhD

2/17

Overview

sharing new findings/researchchallenges and approachesdiscussion - specific challenges and

approaches to Project Excel

New media and youth development

Special relationships to:PrivacyIdentityLearning

(Basic Books, 2008)

digital natives (born after 1980)

a controversial distinction

digital populations…

1. digital natives (born after 1980)access from birth

2. digital immigrants learned later in life

3. digital settlers computer scientists, programmers, hackers

who helped shape the web

particular conditions…

learn in digital environmentlife lived online “always on”experience friendship differentlyrelate to information differently

all info is onlineengage with info in creative ways

How are young people learning in the digital age?Some obvious changes

search engines and Wikipediawebsites instead of booksmultitasking

implications for learning and retention?

Digital learners

assumptions findings

narrowing the range of sources sophisticated in their knowledge gathering

missing data not yet online accessing much more info about a topic than previous generations ever could

channel surfing, skimming Absorbing, in depth knowledge

not developing analytical skills interacting with information in constructive ways

getting superficial knowledge increased engagement with information

New findings (cont.)

self directed learninglearn from peerslearn in many

contexts

(MIT Press, 2009)

How do digital natives learn?

1. perfect the art of grazing

2. a deep dive (geek out)

3. feedback loop

role of educators in digital age

guide participation, not control it

provide more online resources, not less

Digital_Nation (PBS, 2010)

Challenges

Digital media = instant gratification learning? or engaging learners/learning in new ways?

Challenges (cont.)

Multitasking = dumbing down? or necessary skills for 21st century?

Approaches

lament the losses and fight technologychampion the gains and embrace

technologyseek a balanced approach

What would that look like?

Discussion

Specific challenges and approaches in Project Excel?the the use electronic devices in class – should

we promote it or discourage it? What about social networking, multi-tasking,

immediate access/answers?

Project Excel: Future Work

ResearchExperimentDiscuss best practices

Thank you!

robert_bodle@mail.msj.edu