4.2: Digital Literacy

The Edutopia Blog article that I chose to read is not necessarily directly linked to digital literacy, but I think it is directly tied to learning retention and just as important.

Balancing Work and Life: The Ongoing Challenge for Educators.

I don't feel like I can adequately learn new technologies or implement them in my classroom when I'm stretched too thin. I don't feel I retain what I'm learning myself - how can I expect my students to have learning retention if the learning curve is too fast and too steep? They'll do exactly what I did to get through high school - cram the night before the test, rely on having a good short term memory, and not retain the information for use later in life.

I spend so much time in front of a computer screen these days, I feel like my retinas are melting and my brain is rotting. Yes, technology is wonderful. But you need exercise, you need outdoors - those are valuable pursuits personally and educationally too, and I've found a lack of time for them.

This is the second online graduate course I've taken this year, and the second time I've found myself working on a class when I'm supposed to be on vacation, because I've just overbooked myself and the internet is not that reliable. Ok I can't fully blame the internet connection.

But really, how can you teach effectively, use good technological scaffolding, when you're not eating breakfast, you're not taking time out for vacation, and when you're overloaded by criticism of teachers?

I teach in an environment that I find particularly challenging for implementing successful lessons, much less digitally rich ones, and I'm constantly reminding myself I'm doing my best and learning to be a better educator just as my students are learning grammar from me.

So taking a lesson in mai pen rai (Thai for nevermind, don't worry about it), and embracing chaos as taught in Buddhism, I'm reminding myself that it's a journey to take, not a destination reached at once.

We may not be as far along as students in the states, it may not even be advisable or appropriate to utilize the same instructional techniques, but we are on a path and moving forward.

4.1: Learning World Affairs Through Digital Media

I chose this video, Learning World Affairs Through Digital Media, because as an expat educator it has clear implications for my students. My students are aware of affairs in their country and continent, but very often unaware of events in other parts of the world. I believe the same is often true of American students. In a globalized society, we need to work on filling the gaps in global history in our curriculums the world over.

I have not used the program Second Life before, but it appears to be very similar to the video game The Sims and would be very easy for students to learn to use. I do not see a place for that particular platform in my current curriculum, but integrating more information about global affairs and visiting news sources from other countries is something that can be included in my students writing assignments, whether on or offline.

I feel my kids would prefer to play The Sims (which they do) than create another online environment, and of the computer education endeavors I may implement I'm not sure my boss would understand the merit of this particular platform either.

I feel a good goal for my classroom is to re-visit my 'five minute writing' activity at the beginning of class utilizing more global affairs types of issues; and highlighting news on foreign, English language news websites for my students to get a more global perspective.