Teaching with Technology

Knowledge Building Assignment: 02.08.2010

Journal Title: Meridian

by Teddy Ferguson

I’ve selected Meridian as my journal because it covers topics that are relevant to the needs of middle school students. This journal is educationally sound for the young learner and suggests the use of new technologies such as podcasting, via-video, via-audio, distant learner lectures and other new media. This is a greatly innovative approach to teaching across genders and leveling the learning environment f0r all students to develop with the context of multiple experiences. Meridian impressed me as resource that will offer teachers new concepts and pedagogical paths to enhance what students know, how they learn, and their ability to retain info for life-long learning. The website provides an array of articles to explore that are sure in spark intrest from educators of primay, secondary and post-secondary scholars. 

I am motivated to research topics that are currently being explored by scholars who are seeking news ways to employ new technologies in the public school classrooms. Students in science, music, art, social studies and english classes will learn at great capacities using cell phones, clickers, mp3 players, hand-held audio recorders, portable hard drives and other USB/MIDI/Firewire interfaced devices.

Students will learn to document learning experiences using digital units such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, walkie talkies, digital audio recorders, skype, text-messages on cell units and powered gps technology. Meridian is a web-based journal that offer educators contemporary ideas and approaches to alternative learnning pedagogies beyond the traditional surface learning students normally experience in schools.

Students become part of the learning experience and are there prone to experience what is referred to as deep learning. This allows for mastery learning opportunities and greater understanding of the materials presented over time. Students will be able to master and then manipulate information based on situational characteristics necessary to trouble shoot and problem solve.

Also, Meridian displays the experience of its students online. Students are involved in an array of projects, nature experiences and other learning situations that utilize new technologies. These activities are teacher guided and planned to maximize the deep learning experience. I am looking for to sharing and modeling what I have experienced in this short time as an observer of the Meridian website. I think it is a bold and adventurous ordeal to engage students using what they know (new technology) and what they will need to learn (newer technologies).

In doing so, teachers must seriously look at how they design their courses and syllabi for learners who often come to class knowing many aspects of the course. It is increasingly evident that new media has spawned the growth of new thinking and levels of learning. I believe that future students will spend their entire lives as deep learners that investigate the unknown and constantly seek to learn new technologies that will aim to prove or disprove facts of the past. These artifacts will help humanity to cognitively see how well we learn and develop as a community of learners. Meridian is a great web resource where student feedback is immediate and gratifying for learners.