Lesson 3: Understanding Technology Learners

CONTENT

The previous sections of this course have made us clearly understand that technology has its pros and cons. One of the most evident advantages brought to us by technology is the easy and quick access to information and communication. The internet even made a way for people to construct a virtual society they now call the social media. These are places in the virtual world where people spend most of their on-line time.

Young people of today are actively engaged in virtual communication. Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, to name a few – these terms are so popularly used that the English language is learning to embrace it. Now, we can hear people say, “I got a twit!” or “Let’s google it!” The influence of technology can never be stopped, but its undesired effects can always be circumvented. Since modern learners prefer more to engage in learning while involving technological tools, educators can flexibly make use of technology to motivate learning. Some research findings have shown that daily exposures to technology (computers, gadgets, and cellphones) tend to stimulate mental activity, thus creating neural circuits.

A good teacher will never yell at his/her students for preferring to browse the net rather than to read books in the library. Every learner has his/her learning style and preference which a good and constructive teacher should truly consider. The availability of technological tools has even allowed young learners to learn concepts advance to their stage which, I think, is what makes them truly exceptional. Therefore, there are no reasons that are reasonable enough to discourage the use of technology at school.

EXPERIENCE

An interesting interaction took place during the delivery of the topic. Several curious and practical questions were raised to the reporters and the rest of the class were encouraged to share their viewpoints. Varying ideas were richly extracted as students raised contrasting arguments on the application of technology in facilitating learning. It was made clear that technology is both traditional and modern, for technology itself upgrades through time.

REFLECTION

Teaching is not just about making learners learn by giving off knowledge and extrapolating established concepts. A mediocre teacher tries to explain and make his/her students understand what he/she knows, but an exceptional teacher tries to listen and understand his/her students’ points of view. One common mistake of a teacher is that he/she tends to manipulate the learning process when, as a matter of fact, the role of the teacher falls only on facilitating learning. The learners are still the focal point. Seeing myself as a future educator, it would be advantageous to start practicing not just on how to speak well but also on how to listen well. I have realized the “talking” part will not always fall to my part but also to that of the learners. I should see their needs as learners and serve my purpose as a teacher.

APPLICATION

Every subject course in education that I have taken mentioned about learners’ needs. This subject course (Educational Technology 2) talks about the same thing – understanding learners. A classmate of mine once raised an opinion, “We can understand technology learners only when we ourselves experience to learn with technology.” Perceptibly, he agrees with the saying, “Only when you step on someone shoes that you understand what he’s/she’s been through.” If the learners prefer to learn with the use of technology, then we should prefer to teach with technology as well. That makes it fair enough. Only technology teachers have the heart to understand technology learners. So, at the time being, the best thing to do is to practice to become technology teachers. That’s how we apply it. How exciting!