Robert Godwin-Jones, in “Emerging Technologies”, wrote of the digital “third space", as a learning environment different from that of home, work, and school; but not one that is inferior. As “digital natives” use devices like iPods for more than just listening to music, the capabilities of these devices keep expanding, and our ability to use them as tools for teaching expand as well.
After reading about how iPods can be used to assist learning a foreign language, I thought about how the textbook that I use for my American History classes offers students the ability to download audio summaries of the chapters in an MP3 format. I told my students about this feature, and encouraged them to download the files and listen to them on the way to and from school. This was only a few weeks ago, and I haven’t had anyone tell me that they actually did this, but I believe that textbook companies are finding ways to mix traditional styles of instruction with new methods that meet the needs of our digital learners.
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It sounds like your students are just as hesitant to use technology to learn as some digital immigrants are to teach using technology. Your students have been accustomed to learning a certain way all through elementary and middle school and to introduce a new learning style this far into their education, they may be reluctant to jump on board, at least right away.
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