Week 27: -Contemporary issue or trend in New Zealand or internationally.

Contemporary issue or trend in New Zealand or internationally. 

In this reflective blog post I will look at the contemporary issue or trend in New Zealand or Internationally. One of the major trends currently making its way into Schools here in New Zealand and is also Globally established is the use of 21st Century school and the use of digital technologies and e-learning.

According to Visser and Gagnon (2005), the term “trend” refers to the statistically observable change or general orientation of a general movement (Visser & Gagnon, 2005; Karataş et al, 2016).

It terms of Schools and looking at what they are doing we have some schools that are using coding and programming computers, to gamifying their classrooms to enhance their learning. In terms of my School the children are learning to use gmail and learning to do their work online and being able to work collaboratively with another across the class using heir devices. 

In my previous School I has a 1:1 netbook class where e-learning was a huge aspect of my School and class. Everything was done on the children's Chromebooks. Children were able to use my classroom site to and navigate their way around and do online journal readings and then do follow up activities online. As their teacher I was able able to use an app called Padlet with the class where they were able to using their own devices contribute to a topic that we ere studying.

My class is on the verge of becoming a Chromebook class slowly.  Being part of the IT team I have established a big transfer from outlook express and word to using google. Which has been a huge move and is starting to become successful.  This was due to me approaching the management team and explaining to them that we are heading towards 21st century Education system and it would be great to start now and begin preparing our students for their future. 

Best practice e-learning enables accessible, relevant, and high-quality learning opportunities that improve student engagement and achievement. e-Learning has the potential to transform the way teaching and learning takes place. It is about using technologies effectively across the curriculum to connect schools and communities and to provide accessible, relevant, and high-quality learning opportunities so that every student is better able to achieve their full potential.

 e-learning may:

• assist the making of connections by enabling students to enter and explore new learning environments, overcoming barriers of distance and time
• facilitate shared learning by enabling students to join or create communities of learners that extend well beyond the classroom
• assist in the creation of supportive learning environments by offering resources that take account of individual, cultural, or developmental differences
• enhance opportunities to learn by offering students virtual experiences and tools that save them time, allowing them to take their learning further. (http://elearning.tki.org.nz/About-this-site)

I believe that implementing e-learning in the classroom we are setting our children up for success in being able to be confident, capable and collaborative problem solvers. It will also help them with future work. 

References

About this site / enabling e-Learning - enabling eLearning

About this site / enabling e-Learning - enabling eLearning. (2017). Elearning.tki.org.nz. Retrieved 1 August 2017, from http://elearning.tki.org.nz/About-this-site.

Visser, L., & Gagnon, K. (2005). Defining “Trends” and “Issues” in Distance Education. Conversation with Donald Paul Ely Y. Visser, L. Visser, M. Simonson & R. Amirault (Eds. de la serie), Trends and Issues in Distance Education. International Perspectives, pp.83-89.