Selecting Technology in Education
1) Consider any technology and evaluate its effectiveness by using any 3 aspects of Bates’ SECTIONS model.
Take padlet as an example. I have used this website in different classes to help me learn. I will discuss Padlet’s SECTIONS model for students, interaction and ease of use.
Padlet is a good platform for students who are receiving higher education. Most students have flexible learning techniques and they don’t need to learn the boring content of the textbook by page. Padlet is also a convenient and affordable website. It does not require access conditions, every students with an Internet account can operate it; also, it does not need to be downloaded. However, one thing to consider is that some students do not have portable support devices such as computers, but now during online classes, students can stay at home and use computers. This is also the case where padlet usage has become higher. Padlet is generally presented in the form of text and graphics, which is very friendly to those who are visual learners, but not so friendly to those who are aural learners, such as those who like podcasts and lectures.
The second is interaction. Padlet itself does not contain any content with no references or textbooks. All its content is created by users, that is, students. The topic of Padlet is usually raised by the teacher, and then the students respond according to the teacher’s questions, and anyone can reply to someone’s content. Padlet’s design page is also very simple and intuitive. It spreads all responses on one page. You can browse everyone’s answers without clicking any buttons. This maximizes the reading rate of the content and is also convenient for people. Reply when you see something you like.
The third is ease of use. I think Padlet is a very easy-to-use tool. All students with computer equipment can log in to write without complicated operations, and teachers do not need to spend special time teaching how to use this tool. But I think the ease of use of the Padlet is to a certain extent also in the speed of the network broadband. Just like any online learning software, if some students have a slow internet speed or can’t complete the answer at once, will it allow multiple edits and how to deal with the embarrassing situation when the internet is disconnected.
2) As a current or future educator, how do you deal with student’s preference for different technologies?
I hope that as an educator in the future, I will give students great freedom to choose the way they like to complete their homework. As I said above, some people are auditory learners and some are visual learners. Everyone has different requirements for technology. If they use their favorite technology to complete their homework, they are more likely to demonstrate their abilities.
Dear Kenna,
Hello. A wonderful comprehensive explanation of using Padlet in higher education. It’s a great tool for the student in higher education as with this they can express their views on a specific topic. Discussion can be held with the help of giving comments and feedback to each other. Reading views and posts of others is a way for collaborative learning. It helps to create a feminist approach in the class. Other than this, it cuts down the monotony in the classroom and helps to build a lesson based on teamwork. Adding graphics is a cool activity. I enjoyed the ‘Map Padlet’ done by DR. Dobson with our class at the start of the semester. Thanks for highlighting the need for freedom of students for choosing and dealing with the technology in the classroom. It relates to my belief which is based on Montessori’s Philosophy- ‘Liberty of the Child’. Take care.
Gagan