MS Word is a valuable learning resource that I have used throughout most of learning experience. Initially, it was not my favorite word processing software because I simply did not know how to use it--I preferred Google Docs. For what I needed to do--especially in high school--Google Docs and Google Drive was how I shared my work with my peers and teachers; it was also very user friendly. Through EME2040, I have gained an appreciation for MS Word, and actually had a relatively easy and fun time doing my first assignment: a newsletter.
While the ISTE proposes several standards for educators, the standard that resonates with me the most is the "Designer" attribute. Creativity and innovation are two incredibly significant driving forces behind successful and influential teachers. According to the ISTE standards, designers create "authentic learning activities" that are personalized for each student, depending on their educational needs. In addition to creating diverse learning experiences, educators must also "explore and apply" design "principles" that keep students engaged and focused through technology (iste.org).
I believe Mark Prensky has reasonable justification for calling individuals born into the era of the Internet "digital natives." Digital natives are people who have always been submersed in technology--an advantage over older generations who Prensky calls "digital immigrants." I have personally witnessed older teachers struggle with online tasks and computer programs because of how foreign technology is to them. Most of the time, however, empathetic students assist their teachers and keep the class rolling forward in the lesson for the day. From what I have experienced, the bridge between digital natives and digital immigrants is not as distracting to learning as it could be.
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