As one of the first assignments in Age of Exploration, we were asked to read an excerpt about the style of teaching and learning that we follow in the class, called “Partnering”. It is a unique style of teaching based around the students answering their own questions. The foundation and core of this teaching style avoids long lectures and instead focuses on teachers guiding questions so we can find answers. It allows the students to learn in the way that is most effective for themselves and can improve the students ability to manage their time. In this generation this involves connecting on the internet and finding useful information from different resources, as well as presenting to the audience, usually using the internet or other forms of technology to do so.
When I read an except from Teaching Digital Natives by Marc Prensky, I got to fully understand how and why this method of teaching works and I also considered the questions I had and developed a more thorough opinion. Personally, I grew up learning on a pencil and paper. Everything written. I didn’t start using technology until middle school. Our school and learning is based strongly on technology which changes greatly from year to year. I am very used to having discussions and copying notes on paper, but as this world keeps adapting, I also have to adapt to teaching styles and how I am getting information. Because of this, one of my favorite and least favorite parts of the partnering style is the focus on technology. It is very hard to change the way you learn, but in the future such as college: the long term projects, time management, and collecting information from the internet will all play a major role in my personal education and getting the practice I need is crucial and will lead me to more success as a student.
Technology is now not only used as a way to find information, but also a way to share it with others. When I look back onto my learning career, the projects that I have presented and viewed are what I remember most vividly in terms of the information and main point. The only difference is that not all of them were on a PowerPoint or another form of technology, in fact most of the ones I remember used no technology at all.
In Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds, he tries to explain the features of a good presentation and how to make it interesting and memorable to the audience. As Seth Godin says, “Communication is about getting others to adopt your view.” This whole idea of interacting and communicating with an audience is centered around keeping them engaged and wanting to see what is coming next. Technology can help with this, but I believe there has to be the element of interaction. Personally, that is was helps me remember information. For the presentation to be worthwhile with technology, the technology has to help in making it easy to understand and intriguing (for example a video). Keeping the listeners and students intrigued is the priority, in result of a good presentation, they remember the information, understand your point, and can even want to find out more.
This article led me to think: What about presentations without a PowerPoint? Where do those fit in? If it is interactive and captures the core values of a good presentation, I believe that it would create an even greater connection to the audience. Why is it that we are so intrigued with PowerPoint (PPT) or how many different pieces of technology we can use that we don’t go back to the basics? It would be more unique and give them something to remember. The benefit of PPT is the fact that images are shown simultaneously, but would a way of acting it out and having them participate work better? When I am watching a presentation and getting a main idea or information from somebody, I want to get involved and really experience the feelings of the situation.
Depending on how we find information and connect, technology or a raw presentation can work. Both have powerful impacts when done right, but which is the most intriguing to the audience? The live demo/presentation takes a lot more work and creativity to pull off (it can’t just be a speech), but does the hard work pay off? What kind of presentation do you enjoy most as a viewer? With all these changes that have happened throughout my short life time, it makes you think… What will we have to adapt to next?
The Age of Exploration Blog 
Carey Pohanka
October 1, 2012
I’ve read Teaching Digital Natives and it pissed me off! I am old (I’m not fessing up how old) and I feel like I have adapted to learning as a so-called digital native. Is he saying I’m too old to be one? I like the digital resident or visitor metaphor that Dean Shareski talks about in his blog. That implies that one can change their relationship with technology.
http://ideasandthoughts.org/2008/09/23/digital-resident-makes-more-sense-than-digital-native/
sarayu01
October 1, 2012
Carey,
I completely agree that one can choose to be a digital native, so the term “native” is not as fitting. Though I am still young, I have had to adapt. In fact, I believe we ALL have to, since technology is rapidly evolving. And no matter how hard it is to admit, this evolution of technology changes us as learners as well (if we use it or not).
I cannot live without technology, but I still am adapting and learning how to do so. When it comes to some things, I cannot do it on the computer because I don’t learn the information as well. But I do still rely on the computer to get other work done. It all depends on the learners personal preference and style, but no matter what that is, technology can be changing us or it can adapt to us as Ross says below. I think it shapes us either way as learners and as presenters. Even if we grew up learning the alphabet on the computer, all of us who use technology today aren’t 100% natives, because of the rapidly changing systems. It may be closer, but your relationship with technology can never be exactly the same in the beginning and end of your learning career.
Thanks,
Sarayu
Ross Mannell
October 1, 2012
Marc?
I found this post fascinating. It made me think of the technological changes I have seen in education throughout my life. I started typing a comment but, as sometime happens, my comment would have taken up too much space to post here. Rather than clutter your comments section, and so you have the option to simply ignore what I’ve written here is a link to my comment I have posted in my “Extended Comments for Students” blog…
http://rossmannellcomments.edublogs.org/2012/10/02/analog-then-digital-native-for-a-post-about-the-use-of-technology-in-presentations/
@RossMannell
Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia
sarayu01
October 1, 2012
Ross,
I have to admit, I am always using the internet or my phone to communicate with others and get informed on the daily news. I read your article/comment and loved how you grew up with technology and enjoyed it. What got me thinking was: instead of what we will adapt to, the technology will adapt to us. I personally use technology all the time, yet remembering the information and having an impact after a presentation is much harder. I too grew up an semi-analog learner until middle school. I am now making this switch and love all the organization it brings, but it makes me think, “How would it be different without it? Would it be positive or lacking elements?” I believe it all depends on your learning style, and for me I took this class to adapt to it and prepare myself for the future. The main part of learning through technology is that there is only so much creativity on how the information is conveyed, whereas in person, there are no limits. Who knows, there may be something for all learners is in the making…
So no matter how I memorize, I will always use the newest technology to organize my thoughts, schedule, connect with others, and experience things that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. In all honesty, I don’t think I could live without it. We have become reliant and are using technology even more each day. Maybe what makes interaction and live presentations so appealing to me is because I don’t see them anymore and they are unique.
You completely opened my mind to how technology has evolved as well as how much I need it everyday. It terms of learning: I think, in time, I will become just as reliant some day on technology as well.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, opinions, and view.
Sarayu
Ross MannellRoss Mannell
October 2, 2012
The world is full of ifs when it comes to what might have been. One thing I do believe is we would find ways to interact without technology but our world would be a much bigger place and the distances seem far greater. Humanity, in order to survive, has to adapt to the circumstances it meets.
With 37 years, although not always consistently, using computers they can still annoy me if I have to repair or replace them but so much of my world revolves around their capabilities. Apart from the obvious use of computers on line, their capabilities now allow digital editing of the filming I do for DVDs rather than my earlier linear editing of 8mm film. It’s a very rare day I don’t use some level of technology.
I suppose I am reliant on technology but, if the negatives outweigh the benefits or technology were to disappear, I would adapt. Perhaps I would fill an inkwell, dip a pen, and finally have time to write the world’s greatest novel but, in doing so, how would I be able to share?
A horse, a horse, my novel for a horse! 🙂
@RossMannell
kirstenkelly
October 2, 2012
Both of your visual aids made me think of one thing..how much technology can help us communicate if we use it thoughtfully. As a teacher, I am so excited to bring the world to my classroom. Still, I cant forget to give my students a chance to talk about a topic. Interesting post that makes me think.
sarayu01
October 2, 2012
I completely agree. I love technology and it connects me with so many things, which otherwise would not be possible. I love it for that reason and it has changed the normal lecture for the better, but it makes me wonder what kind of ideas we would come up with if we didn’t use PPTs all the time.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed.
Sarayu