Journal #8: Navigate the Digital Rapids - NETS 5

Navigating the Digital Rapids
Lindsay , J, & Davis, V. (2010). Navigate the digital rapids. L & L, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/Volume3720092010/MarchAprilNo6/Navigate_the_Digital_Rapids.htm

This article discussed the complexities of teaching in the digital age. Teachers are faced with the challenge of developing learning environments that are more customized for the ever evolving digital students. This approach involves students in student-centered, globally connected projects, each student's learning experience becomes markedly different, and each classroom becomes as unique as the students and teachers who learn there.

The article also talked about the importance for students to learn how to navigate educational networks. Students needed to have clear guidelines for appropriateness, and ethics of how to conduct themselves on these educational networks, as opposed to social networks such as Facebook. One of the key suggestions for teachers to do this was to make sure the teachers had a plan. The teachers have to lead by example, and help students to not make mistakes by crossing the line. Furthermore, the article talked about the importance for teachers to overcome fear of technology, how to deal with objections, straying off topics, and how to put the learning in student’s hands. The goal for teachers using educational networking would be to prepare their students for the digital age in college.

Furthermore,author strongly believes that teachers should join networks that are focused on technology tools for the classroom like web.20, wiki among others to learn to understand the quality of the material. The authors also believe that “Flat Classroom Projects” a website that is an educational networks for both student and teachers can give the opportunity for both groups to share their experiences when it comes to technology.

At what age should students star using educational networking?

It should start when students begin to use technology more frequently. In many cases this day in age it could mean as young as four in the United States. It’s critical that students learn these computer skills, in order to make it less challenging in the future.

Could students find success in college with only basic, uniform, computer skills in high school?

No, student of tomorrow couldn’t make it with basic skills because the world and internet is rapidly changing. Those students who fail to gain the skills to adjust to the different components to technology will finds themselves drastically behind their peers in college.