Ribble’s Nine Elements and Its Connection with my Major Project

With the growth and advancement in technology, education has also stepped into digital world. Now along with digitalization, some responsibilities also come on the users and this responsible use of technology is referred as Digital Citizenship. This term is not that popular and we often talk about educational environment in digital world. Both teachers and students need some skill to understand the tools and digital devices. This area is often neglected as we take things for granted and one doesn’t care about a healthy online communication. In my class, Dr. Mike Ribble gave an overview for what exactly Digital Citizenship is and how we can make it better. Dr. Ribble pointed out nine elements that cover how one can be good citizen online.

Ribble’s Nine Digital Elements

Text source: fractuslearning.com/digital-citizenship-poster/

Practicing Digital Literacy

Digital literacy is a wide area and it requires good planning for implementation. Teachers should be ensured that students understand the pros and cons of the digital world. There can be some ways by using of which teachers and students can become a good digital citizens and there are:

Fake News: It refers to false information and it alters the opinions of people posting the comments online. The fake news is biased and it degrades the image of someone. It is always recommended to ignore such news and prevent themselves from rumors.

Clickbait: Fake news and Clickbait are interconnected. Clickbait refers to an eye-catching headline, video, image or text that attracts the interest of the user. These are run by some organization who wants more clicks on their website to increase their online presence.

Security: New malwares can affect your computers and can steel every data. These virus can even track your clicks made on the device. Hackers steel the credit card information, credentials of social media and misuse them. It is always advised to be make a strong password and change it regularly. Use VPNs and install anti-virus software in the computers.

Connection of Nine Elements with Major Project

Although all the Ribble’s nine elements can be connected to my major project but I will talk about a few here.

Firstly, I think that out of nine elements, the digital literacy is the most important that I want to connect with my major project. This elements says that a student and teacher should have knowledge of online media and as I will use Facebook, Instagram along with the Gamification tools. So knowledge of the tools and application is foremost important.

Secondly, the element that I want to pick is digital commerce. It refers to buying and selling online. If I talk about Gamification, there are many educational paid games on the internet. Students should be aware that which website is legit and from where it is safe to purchase online stuff.

How we can forget digital security? In my major project as I will explain more about use of social media and passwords plays an important role in it. Weak passwords can be easily hacked and it is always recommended to use alpha-numeric along with special characters while creating a password. Also, teachers should tell about phishing, online scams, backing-up the data and identity theft.

Brief Outline for Major Project-ECI832

As I will work on option #3 which is Personal journey into media. Along with use of social media, I want to include game-based learning in my final assignment. These days social media also provide platform for educational games and a student can earn some credits which can be use to earn a life in a game. I think this method is rewarding and will increase the motivation of student. Game-based learning or gamification is not a matter of single post. It may need well-designed posts or even a book. This is just a sneak-peak into what I will do in my major project. I will also try some use of game-elements in a non-game scenario

According to me, Game-based learning triggers the emotions of a student that help in the motivation. Gamification is stepping out of the comfort zone that triggers the cognitive process which the help of quizzes and helps in adrenaline rush. It brings out emotions like happiness, joy, esteem, fulfilment and so on.

Gamification
Learning Without Gamification

Some educational gaming methods can include Gimkit, Kahoot or Blooket. I will explore these apps and will try to make its connection with use of social media in education. I will try to explain the steps to use some of these methods.

Moreover, going digital always do not have positive impacts. It too has some drawbacks. I am also planning to explain the issues related to social media and what are its limitations. Also, not everyone gets the advantage of using digital tools in education as there are lack of resources and knowledge.

Hoping to cover each aspect in my major project.

What are some essential qualities for students to learn to enter the workforce in the twenty-first century?

No doubt that there is a vast change in the education system if we compare it to the past. With the introduction of technology, education has become more creative and got a meaning. Now students are able to learn by doing. Moreover, technology is useless if students is not allowing themselves to explore more areas and techniques.

According to the information available on https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/five-ways-to-better-prepare-students-for-careers.shtml the essential qualities that students must learn:

1. Encourage collaboration

The capacity to operate as part of a team is one of the most important skills that students nowadays need to thrive in the workplace. They must be able to negotiate, share credit, and compromise to contribute to projects as a valuable contributor. This could be addressed in educational institutions by requiring students to work in groups on certain tasks and projects.

Operating in silos, according to an expert, is detrimental to adulthood. Almost all professions today require collaboration. Employers are looking for someone who can handle a project, provide a result before the deadline and on budget, and operate in groups with little to no supervision. Whenever schools teach that cooperating with your neighbour is cheating, this is undermined.

2. Keep an eye on the future

Graduation marks the start of realistic living for students, as they proceed to use what they’ve learned and handled their financial affairs and life choices. As a result, schools must concentrate not only on whether pupils have mastered stuff but also on where it would lead them in the future. Would they be financially, professionally, and personally successful as a result of what they learned? Whenever did the students ask if they will ever use it in their daily lives? Have an answer ready, as well as an explanation for why they would.

Our schools currently evaluate academic growth from one year to another, according to an expert. On the other hand, even the best students see school as a route to a goal. It’s a necessary step toward their long-term objectives. Those two values must be brought together. In reality, till schools start tracking post-graduation performance, they would never grasp the full extent of their impact on our country’s economic wellbeing.

3. Instill in students the ability to think critically

It isn’t just about reaching the appropriate destination in the office; it’s also about reaching there the finest way possible. This could be repeated in high school by providing pupils with information for making decisions and addressing difficulties.

Jobs in the current workplace, according to a current graduate, need creativity, imagination, and the capacity to stare at a project and not only envision the result but also envisage multiple methods to get there. This is why they are interested in foreign events, politics, and even advanced mathematics.

4. College and Career Preparation

Although education is essential for many occupations, it is not necessary for everybody and each employment. As a result, schools must provide courses that will educate kids for whichever path they choose in life, including college and professional preparation. Additionally, children require life skills such as civics knowledge and the capacity to handle a chequebook.

Most significantly, how can instructors assist students in developing skills?

Due to the tremendous diversity in both the population and the profession, an expert stated that pupils require a variety of educational possibilities. In terms of training the future generation of employees, career academies and more conventional vocational education play a significant role.

Now that we know the essential qualities that a student must learn let us discuss if schools need to change? If so, in what ways?

While we all recognize the importance of education in shaping our careers, it has also been a huge issue in our nation. The Indian educational system is dealing with several difficulties. We can’t dispute that the Indian administration and universities have been attempting to overhaul the current educational system. Nevertheless, there are still several difficulties that need to be addressed.

Here are a few essential improvements to the Indian educational system that are required according to the https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/7-immediate-changes-needed-in-the-indian-education-system-1579167-2019-08-09:

1. Repetitive learning

We’ve made improvements over time, but we’re still stuck in rote learning mode. Though we recognise that IB schools are transforming education at the local level, we must equally recognise that the number of students who attend IB schools is quite small.

The system of education that they provide is not affordable to everybody. As a result, the administration must seize the initiative and eliminate rote learning from all stages of education.

Schools should be motivated to use conceptual understanding, which prevents pupils from memorising what they are educated. This would not only help students grasp the ideas better, but it would also assist them in retaining and applying them more effectively.

2. System of evaluation

Marks are still the most significant aspect in determining a youngster’s future, and this is often passed down to pupils as a load. Students frequently underperform due to the stress of grades.

Rather than relying on a 3 hrs examination, the emphasis of assessment must be on a student’s classroom involvement, assignments, management and communication abilities, and volunteer activities.

Only then can pupils put their utmost effort and be judged accordingly.

3. All subjects are treated equally

We are still surviving in an educational system wherein the science stream has overturned the stream order. Students are driven to become a machine that exclusively studies high-profile courses, whereas disciplines such as communications, languages and the arts are viewed as low-profile.

Rather than making a distinction between disciplines, students must be encouraged to study the subjects that they enjoy.

4. Improved educator training

Teachers serve a vital part in institutions, and they must receive the greatest possible training. After all, it is the youngsters who are determining the country’s future. Teachers are sometimes referred to be “best companions.”

As a result, they must get their education in such a manner that they could function as parents to youngsters who are not in their houses.

While teaching, instructors should strive to create a welcoming and home-like environment in which children may sense empathy and affection in the classroom, which will be mirrored in their actions.

5. Technological advancements

We are all aware that we have entered the 4th industrial revolution. We are in the midst of a technological renaissance, and in this environment, technologies and learning cannot be separated.

Students should be educated about technologies from the beginning of their schooling so that they would not seem unfamiliar to them later on.

Indian universities must accept innovation and learning with an open mind and spread it to children since it is there that their future resides.

We may reach the level of the greatest schools and institutes if the Indian education system begins to take these principles seriously. It is essential that we, as a nation, begin to elevate education beyond the substandard level to which we have been used and begin to view education holistically.

What are the things that will change in the education system?

Many individuals are concerned that technologies might substitute human intellect as the reality around us constantly changes. Some educators are concerned that in the coming years, there may be no children to educate since the technology may take over many of the jobs and skills that we’ve been educating our children for years. The truth is that education would never go away. It would merely take on new shapes. We’ve compiled a list of a few factors that will impact schooling in the upcoming 20 years.

1. Different eras and locations

Students would have additional possibilities to learn at various times and in various locations. Distant, self-paced learning is made easier using eLearning technologies. Classrooms would be reversed, which implies that the theoretical portion would be taught outside of the classroom while the practical portion would be educated face to face and cooperatively in the classroom.

2. Personalized education

Children would learn using study aids that adjust to a student’s ability. When a particular level is reached, above-average children will be confronted with more difficult exercises and quizzes. Students who are having trouble with a topic would be given more opportunities to practice till they attain the appropriate level. During their particular education procedures, students would be constructively encouraged. This could lead to favorable learning opportunities and reduce the number of students who lose faith in their academic ability. Teachers would also be ready to see which children require assistance in which areas.

3. The option to choose

Even if each topic is delivered with the same aim in mind, each student’s journey to that aim may be distinct. Students would be able to adjust their process of learning with items they believe are essential for them, comparable to the personalized learning experience. Students would learn using a variety of devices, applications, and strategies, depending on their personal preferences. Flipped classrooms,  blended learning, and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) are among the terms that are being used to describe this shift.

4. Project-oriented

Today’s students would change to project-based education and employment as their careers change to the future freelancing economy. This implies they’ll have to understand how to use their talents in a range of scenarios in a shorter amount of time. Project-based education is something that students must be familiar with by the time they reach high school. This is when students could learn basic organizational, collaboration, and time management skills that they can apply throughout their academic careers.

Reference: https://elearningindustry.com/9-things-shape-future-of-education-learning-20-years

Weekly Reflection: Major Project

Hello All!

I believe that these days media plays an important role in education. It helps students to to put current topics and also it is easier to pass the message by using media. Indulging with media in education is not about giving the right answers but it is about learning various tools with a critical mind. Out of the 3 options I choose personal journey into media as my major assignment. I will try to incorporate use of social media along with Edtech tools and explain how use this platform at our best. Moreover, I would like to research on how students can engage with local media and can follow the strategies of prints ads, radio, TV along with the platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so on.

Source: https://giphy.com/gifs/BareTreeMedia-work-from-home-btm-bare-tree-media-STroE7bTBLTzxQUrZc

Social media can be helpful for the teachers because they can use emojis as a feedback and can tend to be more casual. By choosing this journey I will also learn new technologies and online tools that can be helpful for me in teaching.

About Me!

I am Amanpreet Kaur and I am from India and a full time student of Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction at University of Regina. If I talk about my native place, I am from Northern part of India and the name of city is Gurgaon which is in Haryana province. I worked as a chemistry teacher in my home country and now I am full time student.

In this era of various emerging technologies, the education domain has also been in the vast influence of technology. The field of curriculum and instruction involves designing and development of courses for both web-based and classroom training. Therefore, this mix and match diverted my interest in this specific field of work. During my bachelor’s in education, I had a keen interest in developing the methods of using new methodology, teaching aids and technology. As nowadays, education is more inclined towards implementation of technology.

I love to become friend with others and want to work in a different environment, in addition to speaking with people from various backgrounds. I am looking forward to this course as I am excited to learn more about technologies in education.