Jatinder Kaur

About Me:

  • I am Jatinder Kaur, a 27-year-old from Gobindpura Papra, Punjab, India.
  • Family Background: I came from a nuclear family, where my father served the provincial electricity department for 35-years as a sub-divisional officer and my mother as a homemaker. My younger brother is here with me doing Master’s in education at TRU. Recently I got married and my husband is in New Zealand who has just flew few days back to Canada to meet me after 1.5 years.
  • Educational Journey: My initial education was from a nearby town, high school in SSJGSSS Sirsa, Haryana, and completed my bachelor’s in non medical and master’s degrees in physics from Punjabi University, Patiala. Then I completed my Bachelor’s in Education from same university and came to Canada for M.ed. I am having 3 years of teaching experience teaching high school physics and math.
  • Career Path: I then started working as an assistant professor in Punjab and thought of pursing P.hd in material physics. During that period I realized that there are glitches in the education system and it is necessary to understand the curriculum and school education first. Therefore, I dropped the idea of doing P.hd but instead of that I started doing my B.ed. When I was just about to finish it Covid-19 hit across the world and everything shut down. I then thought of doing Master’s in education from some other nation to get international experience of education, how the education system works in other countries and learn about different teaching and learning styles. I took admission to M.ED program here at TRU and flew to Kamloops, Canada in April 2022. It has been a phenomenal experience for me to learn and grow in such a diverse nation where I got the opportunity to interact with people from various different nations and learn about how educational systems work there in their home countries and learn from them.
  • Beyond academics, I am a good cook, loves exploring the world and ready to help others. I am driven by the desire to learn and grow from real-life situations and I am eager to facilitate learners to learn and grow in their own pace by building knowledge from their own experiences. My journey during M.ed program helped to build my foundations to be a teacher with active learners who are curious to learn and grow and in this way I would learn from them and we both will help each other learn and grow in a healthy manner.

Frameworks for Integrating Technology into Education

Integrating technology into education may significantly improve the learning experience and open up new possibilities for both students and educators. There are various theories and methodologies that can be used to guide the efficient integration of technology into educational environments. Here are a few examples from what we have studied during this course, Technology in Curriculum:

TPACK Model: TPACK (Technical Pedagogical Content Knowledge) is a knowledge integration model that focuses on the integration of three forms of knowledge: content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technical knowledge. The convergence of these three domains leads educators in creating effective learning experiences that make use of technology to improve knowledge and engagement.

Image from tpack.org

TPACK thus provides a framework for teachers to combine their understanding of technology, pedagogy, and content to create an innovative approach to teaching and learning.As technology advances, teachers should stay updated on new exercises applications, and tools that are relevant to their subject matter. They should also improve their educational abilities so that they can effectively guide student investigation and critical thinking.

Universal Design for Learning( UDL): The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework strives to create accessible and inclusive learning environments for all students by utilising technology to provide diverse modes of representation, engagement, and expression. It promotes the notion that instructional materials and activities should be adaptable to different learning styles and demands.

Teacher should concentrate on locating and organising digital materials that serve to a variety of learning styles. Adopting new technologies that improve accessibility, like as AI-powered captioning and translation, will be critical for reaching a greater range of learners.

Collaborative Learning Environments: Online platforms and tools can promote student and instructor collaboration and communication. Students can collaborate on projects, share ideas, and learn from one another via virtual classrooms, discussion boards, and collaborative document editing tools.

Teachers will need to adapt to new digital collaboration tools and online communication platforms. Strong digital communication skills and instruction on respectful online interactions will become increasingly important.

In the future, instructors will have even more possibilities to engage students, support inclusive learning, and facilitate collaboration as technology is integrated into education. Teachers that embrace these principles and adapt to new technology breakthroughs will be well-equipped to provide their students with productive and engaging learning experiences.

Learning Theories:

During the entire course we have covered many learning theories and integration of technology into them. Here I will majorly focus on Gardener’s multiple intelligence, indigenous ways of learning and bloom’s taxonomy.

Gardner’s Theory of Multiple intelligence: He believed that every learner is unique and requires different learning styles. Thus, according to him a teacher cannot use one teaching approach in a classroom to teach different learners. During this course, I have learnt the use of technology according to different learning styles using an activity in which we were divided into different groups and put on paper different kinds of technology that can be integrated to teach a particular kind of intelligence. Using Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory to integrate technology into learning and curriculum provides a dynamic and personalized approach. Digital media such as blogs and podcasts give networks for expression for verbal-linguistic learners, whereas interactive simulations and coding activities aid logical-mathematical learners. Visual-spatial learners work with graphic design tools and multimedia projects, but bodily-kinesthetic learners thrive on hands-on involvement with motion-sensing technology. Musical students can experiment with music creation tools, and interpersonal students can cooperate through internet platforms. Intrapersonal learners use digital journals to reflect, whereas naturalist learners immerse themselves in online nature encounters. Educators tap into individual strengths by combining technology in ways that resonate with multiple intelligences, enabling deeper understanding and involvement in the learning process.

Image from WIKIPEDIA

Blooms Taxonomy: Bloom’s Taxonomy is a hierarchical framework for classifying various stages of cognitive thinking and learning. It begins with lower-order thinking abilities and advances to higher-order thinking abilities. Integrating technology into Bloom’s Taxonomy-based learning helps improve students’ critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and creativity.

Integrating technology based on Bloom’s Taxonomy helps students to develop a wide range of cognitive skills. To begin with, digital flashcard apps and online quizzes aid in the recall of facts. Complex subjects are explained via animated educational movies and interactive simulations. Putting knowledge to use entails leveraging coding tools to create applications or virtual labs for scientific studies. With online research resources and data visualization tools, data analysis becomes more straightforward. Peer review platforms that allow students to analyze arguments jointly promote evaluative thinking. Finally, technology fosters creativity by allowing students to create multimedia presentations such as interactive eBooks or video documentaries. In a science class, for example, students can use virtual labs to apply theoretical knowledge and analyze outcomes before presenting their findings in a multimedia format project.

Indigenous ways of learning : Integrating technology into education while honouring Indigenous learning methods blends modern tools and ancient wisdom. In Indigenous education, this method recognises the importance of storytelling, community involvement, experiential learning, and cultural expression. Students can interact with Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers using digital storytelling platforms and video conferencing, sustaining oral traditions and sharing ancestral wisdom. Learners can use virtual reality and augmented reality to explore cultural locations and practises, building a stronger connection to their heritage. Online mapping technologies combine Indigenous knowledge and geography, while digital creativity allows students to express their cultural identity. Furthermore, digital tools associated with Indigenous well-being teachings preserve holistic health ideals. Integrating technology via an Indigenous lens ensures that technology is used to preserve, celebrate, and perpetuate Indigenous culture.

Disruptive Innovations: Disruptive technological advancements have caused a dramatic shift in the field of education, changing established paradigms and promoting new learning opportunities. Online learning platforms have transformed access to education by allowing students all over the world to access high-quality courses and resources. Blended learning models have smoothly combined in-person education with digital resources, providing customised learning experiences and collaborative spaces. With the advent of adaptive learning technology, education has become more personalised, with content constantly responding to individual learning needs. Virtual and augmented reality technologies have immersed students in immersive virtual settings, boosting comprehension through hands-on learning. Gamification and game-based learning have added engagement and involvement to education, making it more pleasant and effective. Artificial intelligence has revolutionised the way students receive instruction and support.Meanwhile, digital credentials and collaborative online platforms are changing the way skills are identified and acquired. While these advances have broadened educational horizons, maintaining inclusion and successfully integrating technology and pedagogy remains critical for realizing their full potential in the diverse educational context.

Integrating technology into education in the digital age needs a thorough awareness of legal considerations, safety precautions, and encouraging responsible digital citizenship. As technology becomes more integrated into the learning process, instructors must negotiate these important components in order to provide students with a safe and productive online environment.

Legalities: Incorporating technology into education presents issues of copyright, data privacy, and fair use. When using digital resources, educators should be aware of copyright rules to ensure that items are used appropriately and responsibly. To avoid infringement, intellectual property rights must be respected. Another critical problem is data privacy, particularly when using online platforms and gathering personal information from pupils. Data protection standards must be followed in order to preserve students’ privacy.

The importance of creating a safe online learning environment cannot be overstated. Cybersecurity safeguards must be in place to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorised access. Filtering and monitoring solutions can assist guarantee that pupils receive suitable content while remaining safe from hazardous stuff. Educators should also address cyberbullying and digital harassment, supporting responsible online behaviour and swiftly addressing any instances of wrongdoing.

Digital Citizenship: Teaching pupils about digital citizenship is essential for responsible and ethical technology use. This includes educating kids about good online behaviour, courteous communication, and the implications of their activities in the digital domain. Emphasising critical thinking, analysing online sources, and cultivating empathy can help students traverse the wide digital realm with integrity.

Educators should work with administrators, parents, and students to develop clear regulations and procedures for the use of technology in educational environments. By updating and distributing these standards on a regular basis, everyone engaged is aware of their rights, obligations, and the ethical use of technology. Educators may establish a good and secure online learning environment that prepares students for responsible and successful involvement in the digital world by addressing legal considerations, prioritising safety measures, and encouraging digital citizenship.

What have you learned about each of these elements?

I personally think the SAMR model is a useful framework for figuring out how technology might be incorporated into education. I started to recognize the transformative potential of technology when I moved from utilizing it for simple tasks like reading digital textbooks (substitution) to engaging with peers on online projects (modification). This is in line with the redefinition stage, where technology enables completely new learning experiences that weren’t previously feasible.

Through M.ed program and virtual learning platform that concentrated on global issues and cross-cultural communication, I have got the chance to interact with people from different cultures and viewpoints. I have also looked into the efforts being made to promote indigenous education here at TRU, artwork, and history online and through virtual museum tours. My awareness of the world and my love for cultural variety have both grown as a result of these experiences. Also, various apps helped to learn and understand indigenous culture, beliefs, values and language which made connections to learning from land and nature.

Technology has made it possible for me to engage in inquiry-based learning by giving me access to a treasure of online resources. I had the opportunity to look into a variety of sources while working on research projects, from scholarly articles to primary documents, which has improved my grasp of a variety of subjects. Online debates and collaboration tools have also made it possible for me to have fruitful conversations with others, promoting more in-depth research and critical thinking.

In conclusion, this course really helped me to shape my learning by blending various learning theories and frameworks through technology into curriculum. Technology in curriculum really fostered and shaped my learning experiences in a diverse, inclusive and collaborative environment.