This slide stood out to me in Jesse Millers presentation as it really values the idea of digital literacy in education. With technology constantly evolving it is important to help children understand media and online environments. Therefore, we as teachers are acting as role models and guidance to give positive communications and values in the world kids grow up in now.
Connecting this quote to my final project, we see 3D printing and self-efficacy of teachers playing a role. However, teachers need to step out of their comfort zones and put aside anxieties to meet students where they are at. That is why in my opinion professional development and learning opportunities for teachers is so important as we all grew up with different experiences and need to meet the new generation and their digital needs as it expands more and more.
When doing this week’s readings, multiple connections were clear to me in terms of our project of 3D printing and technological advancements. Here is the quote that aligned with the Cheng article and Graham and Roberts (2018), article that states
“Online and blended learning environments afford educators the opportunity to extend learning environments beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom, but pedagogical innovation has not been able to keep pace with technological change.”(p.2377).
This change and diversity of devices (3D printers in my focus case), have been difficult to implement as there is no team to help manage and be tech support for the numerous styles.
Finally the other article we read also aligned with our project as we focus on personalized learning. The conclusion of this article really reinforced my connections. Ross stated that “Ultimately, I learned that in order to be an effective teacher, I must, myself, be an engaged learner.” (p.71) as this happens most effectively through personalized learning. The personalization of using “voice, strengths and interests.” Is also prevalent in 3D printing and providing multiple means of communication for students. Students are thus motivated to design their ideas and print it in real life. Ultimately this motivation is what we are hoping to foster in our workshop and all of the above ideas discussed are key aspects to the creation of our project and the implementation of new technology in education.
References
Graham, L., & Roberts, V. (2018). SHARING A PRAGMATIC NETWORKED MODEL FOR OPEN PEDAGOGY: THE OPEN HUB MODEL OF KNOWLEDGE GENERATION IN HIGHER-EDUCATION ENVIRONMENTS. International Journal on Innovations in Online Education, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.1615/IntJInnovOnlineEdu.2019029340
Ross, T (2016). Relevant MEd Project: Making Reflective Practice Visible: Supporting Shifts in Practice Towards Personalized Learning
Your reflections intrigue me, particularly regarding the role of teachers as digital literacy role models. With technology evolving so rapidly, it’s crucial for educators not only to guide students in navigating online spaces but also to step outside our own comfort zones and engage with emerging tools—just as you highlight with 3D printing. It’s fascinating to see what these printers can do and how they can empower student learning.
In my Grade 7 Humanities class, students asked if they could 3D print a model of a fur trading post because they had access to a printer at home. I was all for it! They had to find the right program, make adjustments, and troubleshoot—skills that go beyond traditional learning. While I don’t know much about 3D printing myself, I’m excited about the cross-curricular possibilities that new technologies bring.
As educators, our professional development must continually evolve to meet students where they are rather than staying where we feel most comfortable. The Cheng, Graham, and Roberts (2018) article highlights the gap between technological change and pedagogical innovation—something I see reflected in many schools today. One of the most significant barriers to implementing new technology, like 3D printers, is the lack of adequate support. For example, my school has two or three 3D printers, but no one knows how to use them. Someone must have proposed a proposal to purchase them, but when that teacher left, the knowledge and resources left, too. Now, this fantastic technology is just collecting dust in a room that could otherwise serve as an alternative space for students, which is a shame.
So sad to see 3D printers or any technology/resources not used…As the benefits are huge for learning! We hope our project can help create a community to keep technology such as 3D printers going. I love how you let your students do that as I also believe “skills go beyond traditional learning”. Thanks for such an awesome reply, so appreciate it. Helps us stress the needs to support training for teachers especially in terms of technological change and innovation.