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Being digital opens up a whole new world for students. If they are proficient with technology, it is easier for teachers to differentiate instruction,as well as provide intervention and enrichment for students.

Knowing and accepting that the future of education is technological, and embracing the digital resources that are available will make being "digital" in our classrooms much easier. We are progressing, not regressing into a digital age.

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Being digital allows students and teachers to connect in different and more effective ways.

One thing that really resonates with students is that being digital often means students can do their homework, in their own time, with mobile devices. Also having access to multi-media, especially videos, truly brings  content alive, whether it be Math or ELA. Moreover, being digital affords students the opportunity to collaborate in virtual environments such as  the HMH Player app or MyWriteSmart.

For teachers, being digital makes it possible for them to connect, offer suggestions for improvement etc. in real time via messaging  or simply being able to view their students work via their own accounts. Teachers also are able to capture much more accurate and sensitive data on their students strengths and weaknesses by administering online tests, Performance Tasks  and using tools like the Personal Math Trainer.  Especially in the case of the PMT, this data can generate prescriptions to help students where they need help and challenge those that need enrichment. Moreover, by generating reports from data teachers can more easily see if their class is on track for mastery of various standards and use this information to drive their instruction.

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I work in districts that have tech labs and a few class sets of laptops. Access to the internet at home is a problem for many students. But they all have a cell phone! I think use of the digital resources and digital learning in the classroom is essential for 21st century learning, but we should not become totally dependent on tech for learning. Nothing replaces the teacher in direct instruction for primary grades learning to read and write.

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Over the past year I have been in schools that are completely 1 to 1 with tech and students are 100% connected at home. When they have a snow day, school continues online between teachers and students. I have also been in schools that don't even have a projector for the teachers. One thing that is consistent though is that the students are usually ahead of the schools with there knowledge and use of technology. In most cases we have to bring the teachers up to the level of technology that will be available and used in their classrooms.

Our biggest problem that I see is that our technology and platforms are not consistent enough, reliable enough, and they need to be more user friendly. We need to get our products on one platform. We also need to make sure the resources work before we put them in the hands of the teachers. Teachers have a very high frustration level and we don't need to add to that.

Our job in the tech implementation is to lower this stress level as much as possible. That is sometimes difficult when the programs we are implementing are not ready for prime time. Technology is great and can enhance instruction and student learning, and give students experiences not available in print, and give teachers tools to meet individual students needs. But if it doesn't work properly, consistently, and in a user friendly way it will lead to frustration.

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We are currently teaching students who will be employed to jobs that haven't even been invented yet. Wow! That statement alone places an urgency on the need for a teacher to to be "digital". Teachers must be able to use a variety of devices with the same ease they use paper and pencil, a school library, or even how they assess their students.

I feel the digital world has made it easier for teachers to manage our 21st century classrooms. No longer do teachers need to manipulate mounds of paperwork for tracking student behavior and parent communication for that behavior, but resources like Class Dojo will do it for you. Online content-based programs are available to teach and reteach students basic skills with cognitive engagement and provide the teacher with data at the push of a button. Resources like these free up valuable time and allows teachers to focus on what is most important, the student.

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Being "Digital" means being aware of pertinent information,

occurring in the world at the tip of your finger, at any given time.

These days, having access to the same information as students is

important to effectively teach them. Knowing what students are

exposed to helps teachers to understand their thinking and gives

them a better idea of how to reach them and take them forward

in life. Technology allows us to share the same platform of

information thus, helping teachers to create an effective

learning plan for student success. It gives "Keeping up with the

times" a new meaning. Not to just be hip to the things of the

world, but to be informed about the ever changing things that

occur in this vast, complex universe.

As a teacher, being digital helps you to plan lessons with ease,

and teach children on all levels successfully. Because you have

access to information and are able to effectively monitor

progress, you can keep abreast of student growth. Being a

teacher in this digital society, gives you the awesome opportunity

to assist students from where they are at, guide them to where

they need to be and help to give them confidence to go beyond.

Being Digitally Savvy, will keep you in the race to evolve,

while technology revolves the world.

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Being “digital” definitely impacts the students of today.  The discussion on this topic has been exactly accurate from the stand point of how students have grown accustomed to information being accessible immediately.  Classrooms must be those that allow for this technology to be a major part of the learning environment where students can be motivated to learn and communicate in the ways that they are accustomed to everyday.  This technology is welcoming and intriguing to the students of today which stimulates the learning process.

Many teachers on the other hand are the ones who must work to reach the necessary “digital” proficiency levels.  Some teachers easily respond to the challenges of learning new technologies, but some do not.  There are many teachers who didn’t even experience the internet until they were adults.  Being in this category, it is a task to learn and create a classroom that is digital first.  The importance of strong training and development of confidence is important for these teachers with technological weaknesses.  Teachers who have grown up in this ever changing land of digital innovation do hold a strong advantage when it comes to developing a blended learning environment which is so essential for the learners of today and tomorrow.  Training is important for the “digital-age” teachers as well seeing that things change constantly.  Utilizing prescribed learning experiences that digital classrooms offer is the ultimate goal for our classrooms and learners.

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As I look around the classroom, I don't see the future but instead I see the here and now. I see 21st century humans who need to be met with the tools, technology, and an approach that matches who they are everyday. Being digital is the framework from which learning must be based. It increases curiosity and engagement in student learning and allows for more of a self-directed approach as well. That said, I am challenged daily as a teacher to meet this need in these learners. There is no room to revert back to a traditional non-participant way of learning in earlier classrooms but instead I must push myself to remain digitally fluent and, most importantly, relevant.

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I feel that being ‘digital’ has a primarily positive impact on students’ learning as long as all students have equal access to the technology.  If there are digital aspects to a specific program, then I feel that a teacher needs to demonstrate to students just how to move through the program and how to access the technology. Students need to be shown how they can use the online technology components available to them properly and how online tutorials or the online textbooks can enhance or supplement their understanding of the content being presented and taught.  Students have different learning styles and teachers need to understand that some students will excel through the use of digital learning.  I have always embraced new technology.  I enjoy showing teachers how to use all aspects of any program they adopt and feel that it is important to demonstrate how it can be utilized to enhance both their teaching and their students’ learning.  I always need to feel comfortable with the technology and spend a great deal of time practicing with it prior to using it in front of students or teachers, however, once I find that comfort level, I feel that it has a very positive impact on instruction.

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I agree with what most people have said here. My school district has purchased Chrome books for all students 6-12 but this is not the norm for most school districts.  Students are masters of technology since they have been digital natives as soon as they could use technology.  I am amazed at what they can do and they have no fear of technology. That being said we have to be realistic and look at all those districts where students don't have access either at school or at home to tech.

Those students who do have access to technology can find almost anything online that they nee from quizzes to tests, research papers, and answers to almost anything. Teachers have the resources to check for plagiarism in research papers which is a plus.  However, we still need to address those students who don't have access to technology which puts then at a disadvantage when they have to take CC Assessments which are digital.  I also think students can become easily distracted when using tech and lose their focus.  The blend seems to work best for most schools if they can do it. Students still need to master the skills for CCSS and the blend will address the needs of most students. In most cases teachers still need to make sure that they utilize the student centered classroom model so students take the responsibility for learning what they need to know with guidance for their teachers.

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Absolutely true - all that I've been reading here.  Too many districts we serve still have at most, a teacher workstation, a projector, or perhpas an elmo - and that is all the teacher has to implement many of the resources on our fabulous digital curriculum - then hopefully, the students can go to a computer lab, where large districts have already installed the intervention programs they are to work on, leaving little to no time to explore digital resources - so, we have to meet them where they are, and hope that going forth, funding will be made available to districts both large and small to achieve a one-to-one device ratio for the students.  Ann Pearson was spot-on about the way we need to teach students to think through, and process information rather than regurgitate it - and our assessments are already there, the students too many times are not ready to respond in these ways.  Great padlet discussion

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I'm finding that I agree with Ann's comments of the positive and negative impact of our coming of age in the digital world. I'm finding that our young people have "no fear" of technology but as stated by others may have limited access outside the classroom. And, as stated by those above, often the "hardware" is less than adequate in the classroom. Going with the positive first, the young people are clearly ahead of the game with technology than are many of the teachers. They adapt quickly and learn the functionality of technology easily. That being the case, I can't help but believe that the "digital content" is being absorbed and learned. It's the new modality of learning for these digital natives. I see only continued advancement in education and major successes for our students. On the teacher side of the fence, I sense that we are lagging behind. I'm guessing as the younger generation become the teachers the transition will begin to take hold.

On the negative side, there are clear potholes in the road ahead. "Digital dependency" can lead to trouble. In my previous career as a military flight instructor the digital dependency created several problems. When the technology failed or the digital access was not available many flight students couldn't complete the task. The students still have to be able to function with a #2 pencil and paper. We must not allow the wonderful digital tools and content to take place of genuine hardwired learning.

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Even at the secondary level, these are 21st Century students, "digital natives" who have grown up with this technology and regardless of our 19th century schools, is how they have learned and will continue to learn. With the access to information world wide, good and bad; social media streaming history real time; and the ability to research from the best sources; our students can soar if allowed. With so much data overload, we as their teachers, must teach them to be discriminating users of these resources, to recognize and filter that data so as to obtain their goals. Digital learning can be of unlimited benefit but only if we embrace it and utilize it.

Therein lies the challenges for many teachers. As many are "digital immigrants" we must learn the language and culture and how to navigate in this new "country" we now inhabit. This means a paradigm shift for many and a lot of reflection on how we have been teaching. To truly meet the needs of our students we must know first where they are at, and then proscribe a course of instruction to bring them to mastery of the standards. Technology allows us to truly differentiate our teaching to meet those many and varied needs.

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Having the opportunity for digital learning is an ongoing process. With today's technology ever changing, yet having the chance to learn with digital tools is truly an ongoing process. The students of today are learning at a rapid pace so we as educators need to keep pace with the digital tools that are available.

As a teacher, we will have to alter our teaching styles. Students have many more opportunities to gather information and deliver it and be assessed in many different ways. I believe having the chance to use technology in our classrooms will be a welcome challenge for many. However, the process of gathering and delivering information will benefit all through example.

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It's amazing to me that in this digital age , we have many students who do not have access to digital tools.  Many of our schools. while wanting to incorporate technology into the classroom, find themselves with non working equipment. In a very large district in Ohio, Ipads were given to students for a pilot program and most of them did not work!   How disappointing!

We need to continue to expose our students to the opportunities that are out there in hopes that the digital age will find its way into all of our schools.   As teachers, we need to continue to stretch ourselves in the use of tech and be prepared for those "blended " learning classrooms that do exist.

Even today, I find myself not automatically rushing to the computer as a resource.  When I asked," Who won the Kentucky Derby?" ,  my husband's quick reply was "Stream it."

Geez!

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Digital literacy is an essential component for 21st century learners and educators.  Stakeholders  are discovering that exploring ,  analyzing, and evaluating information from digital resources leverages higher level thinking skills and the need for: evidence across all content areas, in the work place, and in support of real-world decision-making.

Teachers will need to evaluate their own level of digital literacy to determine gaps and strengths as they relate to teaching and learning with technology. This may include revisiting belief systems regarding the relevancy of technology in the learning process. Students will need differentiate the use of technology according to the task at hand (research, communication, entertainment, etc). Clear learning expectations and outcomes will promote clarity and consistency.

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Being digital impacts students in both positive and negative ways in my opinion - Positively, students have the world of information at their fingertips. Don't know something? Google it! Don't know how to get somewhere? Let your smart phone guide you! Want to hear your specific type of music? Pandora will play only what you like! As one educational article put it, we are in an age where students now have to learn to pursue their education instead of us pursuing students with their education. On the negative side, everything is instant and our students now are less willing to work through information or struggle to come to understanding. They are used to getting exactly what they are looking for right away - this hinders them in fields like science and math where they have to go through trial and error in experimentation and where they may have to try multiple approaches to solve math programs.

As a teacher, this impacts the way we need to teach - instead of ensuring students can regurgitate factual matter, we need to shift our attention towards teaching students to think and process and apply higher order thinking skills. Similarly, our assessments need to evaluate if our students can process information - while basic vocabulary is still important for fluency, if a student can look up an answer on Google, we have to ask whether it's important that we spend huge amounts of time getting them to memorize that information. In short, our teaching needs to model the Common Core - greater depth, not greater breadth.

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How does being “digital” impact your students and their learning? How does it impact you as a teacher?

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How does being “digital” impact your students and their learning? How does it impact you as a teacher?