Dani's Massey University Portfolio

What do I hope to accomplish in this course? Over the past few years I have been working in a school where digital technology is highly valued to the point where parents are investing large sums of money in their child’s education by purchasing a device for them to use at school. The expectations our school has on teachers to provide students with a sound blended learning programme has led me on a search for current pedagogical knowledge and educational design methods through a digital technology lens.  I have chosen the Digital Education and Design for Learning paper because it seems to delve deep into contemporary practice with a strong practical element of designing educational materials for a range of learners. I am a digital learning leader at my school and so a lot of teachers look to me for ideas and ‘know how’ with using digital technologies in the classroom. With this in mind, I find it really important that I learn about the best practice in current design with an e...

Guiding Question:  Does the adoption of digital technologies imply a modification of your teaching (i.e. evolution), extreme change in your teaching (revolution) or more of what you already do (status quo)? Reflection The adoption of digital technologies implies a modification to my teaching (evolution). Technology does not change the end result or goal of what I teach; but rather enhances it and enables myself and my learners to be more efficient, engaged and productive. It enables me to work at any time and place; as well as being able to access the necessary materials I need to plan lessons and prepare lesson content at the click of a button. For my students it allows them to learn in ways other than from the teacher; and produce evidence of their learning using a range of media and creative tools, while giving them a platform to share and learn from others - expanding their audience. The way in which I integrate technology into my classroom depends on the learning purpose ...

Reflection After reading Pratt's (1998) introduction to the five perspectives, I've found many elements in each perspective are apparent in my own teaching practice. Each of the perspectives have a place in primary school education depending on the subject being taught. I feel it is important to stay true to what you feel is most important when teaching in any learning context. This is particularly important when using digital technologies as a lot of teachers feel pressured to use devices, but often use them just for the sake of it. These tools should be implemented in a way that is purposeful, meaningful and enhances a learning experience. Not at the expense of a teacher's pedagogical beliefs. Which of the five perspectives best fit my views of teaching? The perspective that best fits my view of teaching is ‘A Developmental Perspective: Cultivating Ways of Thinking’ although there are aspects of some of the other perspectives that I agree with and think are important. ...