OTAN News
3 Ways to Support an Effective Digital Learning Environment
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“With the emergence of AI Chatbots like ChatGPT,” there is an increased anxiety about “technology use in the classroom.” With each new tool, there is a teacher distraction with every new introduction. “Over the years teachers have had to deal with a number of these disruptions, from calculators and computers to internet access and social media.” The onus is on educators to “both understand these tools and identify opportunities for students to use them meaningfully and appropriately in their studies.”
With so much already asked of teachers, how are they supposed to balance instructional expectations while also teaching digital tools? Today’s ChatGPT “is an incredibly powerful tool,” that will evolve into the next one. Instead of tweaking the curriculum with every new tool, it is up to practitioners to rethink their learning goals, so students determine “how digital resources support their learning.” The writer describes three ways of rethinking digital tools.
No need for rote learning
If a student can find the information in a Google search, then they do not need to memorize it. Shift the focus from “students memorizing content to students using content to meet high-order goals.” Learners will use the technology, and then therefore learn it.
Shift to higher-order thinking
The writer recommends the following strategies to support a more effective learning environment.
- Let students determine when and how to use digital tools to support their learning. Learners “will uncover what works best for them.”
- Ask open-ended questions to foster exploration and discovery. “Create a learning environment in which students feel safe to openly share ideas and criticisms with each other.”
- Give learners time to practice higher-order learning skills. “Multi-day activities scheduled regularly throughout the year will allow students to become proficient in this new way of learning.”
Empower learners by letting them choose their edtech tools
Design lessons to “support the skills students need to be successful digital learners and allow students to manage how they use digital technology, then emerging technologies will no longer be ‘one more thing to do’ in an already overburdened curriculum.”
While these ways may spark enthusiasm for classroom renovation, it is also possible this is an incredible instructional challenge for some teachers. However, digital tools “can empower learners and open the door to learner experiences previously unattainable,” this allows educators and students to adapt to an ever-changing digital world.