Blog Post #2

     During my freshman year of high school, we were required to take a class designed specifically to advance our digital literacy skills and inform us regarding the proper use of software such as MS Word, PowerPoint, and other commonly used academic technology. Throughout this class, however, I struggled to understand MS Word and found it personally to be incredibly overcomplicated and difficult to manage. As I began to take more college courses, the use of Word was required for assignment submission, so over the course of the last few years, I have grown more familiar with its usefulness in an academic setting. Regardless of this familiarity, I believe I will always prefer Google Docs due to its efficient formatting, simplified structure, and ability to transfer information from one software to another. 

    The ISTE standard of collaboration means the most to me as I believe it is incredible important for teachers to continually improve their learning environments through collaboration with their peers and students. Throughout the week, I learned what it means to truly be a collaborator as an educator and its sense of importance in an educational setting. I feel as though continued learning is always the most important virtue of a caring, efficient educator. Both students and teachers alike benefit solely from open communication and elaboration through which they can share common goals, struggles, and understanding. The role of a true collaborator is to encompass every standard listed in the ISTE list, as learning, leadership, facilitation, etc, are all the most basic and valuable aspects of true collaboration. 

"Holiday Story" by woodleywonderworks is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

    The term "digital native," referring to those who have become accustomed to the language of technology through its habitual and frequent use and availability throughout their lifetime, perfectly encompasses what it means to be a child/young adult during the current technological age. There is simply no rational denial of the differences between young, "digital native," students and their teachers, administrators, parents, and otherwise "digital immigrant" adults. For example, I feel as though my younger, more technologically understanding teachers were able to administer digital tests and assignments to students in ways in which we could understand and engage. Older, "digital immigrant," teachers struggled to administer standardized testing or digital assignments when necessary as their understanding of the necessary technology was strained. I believe this pattern will continue as I age, as the rate at which technology is currently changing simply does not allow for constant understanding. I will likely struggle to speak the technological language my students will be fluent in such as AI use and new personal devices like cellphones and tablets, but I believe trying to do so regardless of struggle ensures my students will get the best education possible.