Tuesday, 23 February 2016

The Digital Tools of Digital Pedagogy

Digital Pedagogy is not an automatic or systematic way to teach. It is rather a flexible and innovative teaching method. There is no way today that digital pedagogy can be ignored. Without pedagogy a world cannot exist and without electronics nothing can be digital.

The latest technology of the century does ease our daily lives, although not everyone isn’t satisfied with it. So just imagine how absolutely amazing technology would change our education for the better. This doesn’t only need to be in our wildest dreams. All it takes is a dynamic, open, playful and adventurous educator. The terrain of digital pedagogy doesn’t need any introduction and its unmeasurable. Only that it demands a change in communication between teacher and learner. No physical buildings are needed for digital pedagogy, neither a direct dialogue between teacher and learner.  

People are unpredictable species so that is why digital pedagogy can’t have a theoretical meaning. Not to mention that the word theoretical mustn’t even be associated with digital pedagogy. Theoretical is so conservative, digital pedagogy is more modern. Digital pedagogy and its tools should emphasize learning and not facilitate teaching. Some teachers would be comfortable with digital pedagogy; other teachers would feel that it replaced their status. The average community would feel that it is too expensive to switch to digital pedagogy. That is why the benefits of digital pedagogy should be made clear to every teacher and learner. Digital pedagogy must be incorporated through word of mouth and be made visible through engaged learners.

An average Teenager would commit themselves in digital pedagogy, because it is a medium of communication that they enjoy and appreciate. Digital pedagogy brings the teacher back on the level that the learner is, not necessarily through technology. It can be orientated through a painting or a fancy magazine. As long as the social engagement is present. Technology just makes digital pedagogy more attractive and active.

Digital pedagogy is actually more challenging than the ancient teaching our learners are used to. Because through all these trends and transformations the teachers and learners must remain attentive and teachable. Digital pedagogy is largely misunderstood in higher education. That is why it should be practiced on a primarily level more often. With digital pedagogy you learn by forgetting. Forgetting being said in a positive sense. Because both the teacher and student will be so busy exploring new things that can be digitized in a classroom.

Digital pedagogy can create a brand new network in a classroom without Internet. It just needs a limitless landscape.            

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

Digital Pedagogy: The next generation

The word digital means to explain something more creative, visual or creative. People nowadays work with digital numbers, figures and tables. The reason for that is so that others, including themselves, can understand something quicker. Pedagogy is the way and actions how you teach academically. So when you put these two words together it simply means to teach in a manner which your students can understand easily. The essence of teaching is to make your students remember what you have just explained to them. With digital pedagogy this is possible.

For any average person the word digital means technology, social media and electronics. The average person would not understand the meaning of the word pedagogy, but after reading this blog, you will. Today toddlers grow up with an Ipad or tablet and the learner in the class has got a much trendier and expensive smartphone than the teacher. What used to be visa versa in the 1980’s. So for the teacher to stay connected to the learner and to keep the learner intrigued he or she must get onto the same level of the learner. Surely this can be done by technology. But is technology the only solution?

According to Fyfe technology is not the only solution. Fyfe recommends digital pedagogy. A naked digital pedagogy. Where the words digital and technology is not use in the same sentence. You redefine the digital part to something brand new. A definition without any technological media. But you only eliminate the technical component, because digital still has to mean making something easier, comfortable and bearable. So without the teachers needing to spend thousands, simply just to get on the level of their students, they bring back the 1980’s in the redefined digital way according to Fyfe.

This entails drawing, painting, acting or any other form of social engaging. When you social you are comfortable and you tend to remember more information. Isn’t this what teachers want for their learners? Education is about diversity and inclusivity and socialising is definitely making educating an easier task. Expressing emotions, visual descriptions and speaking of how one feels is so much easier than remembering theoretical notes. Although the teacher still presents an academically lesson, the engaging and interaction of the learners tend to make the lesson more teachable because of their effective contributions.

So in the end it’s a win-win situation, for both teacher and learner. The teacher makes use of a non-technological digital pedagogy and the learner remembers the work because of social engagement.