While others have discussed addressing higher level thinking with their students I also think technology can play a solid role in formative assessment and helping students build strong foundations.
Perhaps digital technologies can support higher order thinking by first providing a simple means for students to be able to practice basic skills and address their error and misconceptions in real time. Then being able to weave in more complex and higher order thinking will be easier?
I designed a digital literacy course for a group of ECE instructors in Nigeria. I had a lot of really cool ideas about how to address plagiarism and develop digital media skills by building a digital story, etc. However when I got in front of this class we spent a solid hour opening up Microsoft word and saving a file. Just because the technology is there and CAN be used to meet higher goals doesn’t always mean that this is the first place it should be used.
I think SAMR provides a pretty reasonable model for technology integration. If the first step is to substitute then that’s still a first step towards the “redefinition” of a task. I think higher order thinking skills in reflecting on one’s work is definitely possible but digital tools can facilitate sharing with stakeholders (parents, other teachers).
Hi Kari,
One of my favorite uses of digital technology in a classroom (especially in a math classroom) is to use it as a tool for formative assessment and I have been doing so for years. I usually use Kahoot, online jeopardy games and some other websites. However, I can totally relate with you on when technology “lets you down” and you feel so frustrated for wasting your and your students time. I have had some of these instances as well. Although, one thing I always find helpful is to keep things simple. The simpler they are, the lesser chance of them failing or letting you down. Once I worked on this big project that required participation from all students of my class and I was going to create a powerpoint out of the input from my students and it did not work out so well. Therefore, I learned that perhaps had I given my students and myself a bit more time, it might have worked better. Therefore, I find that giving yourself more time makes things go smoother sometimes. But again, just like you said, this is no reason for one to not use digital technology in today’s world in one’s classroom. Great post!