Journal 3 YC NETS-T IV & V Navigating Digital Rapids

I read and reflected on this article from the ITSE (International Society for Technology in Education) website and also used Citation Machine to cite the journal in APA format.


Lindsay, J., & Davis, V. (2010). Navigating digital rapids. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(6), Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/20100304#pg14

This article was about digital citizenship. Digital citizenship is when you have transformed yourself into someone who is comfortable researching and keeping current with the latest technology trends. This allows you the comfort of monitoring the use of modern technology in your classroom, school or district.

Due to minimal knowledge and unfamiliar territory in the technology world, most educators tend to fall into the fear factor. This fear factor prevents them from gaining digital citizenship. They must make it a priority to be as current as possible with the latest technology that allows them to create new and exciting learning projects and environments for their students. In other words, we all must become Digital Teachers in order to compete with the virtual entertainment our students use on a daily basis at home.

Lindsay and Davis give several tips on how to maximize our digital classrooms. They begin with the importance of CUSTOMIZATION. If we customize the learning environment and mobile technology, students will gladly accept it. Through these customized classrooms teachers and students can learn together while still keeping up with the National Standards.

The importance of MONITORING and BEING ENGAGED in our digital classroom must never be ignored. It is vital that both teachers and students conduct themselves in a professional and culturally sensitive manner. Things to be monitored are types of language used, avatars and uploaded material. By monitoring and being engaged we are teaching both responsibility and sensitivity.

Digital teachers must also HAVE A PLAN if a student should take advantage of the digital classroom and tools it provides. When they cross the line, consequences should be implemented immediately. Global teams can help monitor the materials because networks are monitored 24/7.

We must overcome the FEAR FACTOR and realize that the toughest waters have already been tested. Many have been working out the kinks for a while and we do not have to face many of the obstacles that were present at the beginning of this digital journey. We can learn from those who've already tested the waters and avoid many of the trial and errors they've had to figure out.

The authors also suggest that we place some of the LEARNING IN THE HANDS OF OUR STUDENTS. By giving students some power over their own digital learning experiences, they too will gain digital citizenship which can be beneficial now and in their future education.

QUESTIONS: As digital teachers, what are some of the technology tools we should be familiar with? We should probably get proficient with the basic web 2.0 tools such as Wikis, Nings, Blogging, etc. It would also be helpful to have a personal learning network where you can bounce questions and answers off other digital teachers in your field. Attending conferences and reading publications that contain content related material would also prove to be very helpful.

What would be an example of leaving some of the learning in the hands of our students?
Some examples would be giving our students some administrative rights and allowing them to customize their digital tools. The right to have a mobile computer on a school network and still be able to update and install programs that are custom to their individual needs would definetly be a form of learning in their own hands. This would all be monitored behind scenes, but it gives them a sense of digital citizenship and may in turn prevent them from avoiding the Fear Factor altogether.