4.6 Assignment: Critical Reflection Journal/Blog

What is new to my thinking or learning this past week? 

            I am from the generation who grew up without modern technology such as Podcasts, Video-Logs, and even websites.  In my undergraduate degree program at IWU-Marion in the early ’90s, we saw the infancy of the world wide web and the internet.  It wasn’t the thing then that it is today.  It was just this morning; I was watching a piece on the morning news that talked about the events of the ‘’90s,’ and I found myself intrigued that I lived through all of those events. Now 32 years later, technology and its use in education are just commonplace.  

            I found the information on Podcasts fascinating as a medium for disseminating and learning information.  I was aware of Podcasts but have never used them in learning or teaching.  As a visual learner, I am much more engaged in seeing the presented information.  In my first master’s degree program at APU in the early 2000s, we were introduced to Ted Talks.  I found this medium exciting and informative.  It was intriguing how an individual could disseminate valuable information and knowledge in a short-defined amount of time.

            To adapt to new technologies throughout my educational journey over the last twelve years, I’ve begun to listen to books using Audible.  This is a big step for an ‘old’ learner like me.  I’ve also adapted to electronic copies of the text being used in the course.  I must admit I still prefer having a hard copy of the textbook in my hands, but I have found some of the search features included with electronic books helpful when trying to find the information again after I read it. One of my top 5 strengths, according to the Strengthsfinder assessment, is ‘adaptability.’  As someone who didn’t grow up in the age of technology as we have it today, I am trying diligently to adapt to ways of learning to disseminate using technology.  I am doing this not only for my benefit but also to better serve students to who I have been entrusted with imparting my knowledge and wisdom in a way they can best understand. 

How has this new information challenged me?

            Information about technology, particularly new technology, continues to challenge my thinking and mindset regarding teaching and learning.  I believe this is especially true when it comes to online learning.  As educators, we must be adaptable and in tune with what our students are using and determine the best way to incorporate that information and technology into our teaching methods.  I can best serve my students is to reach them right where they are and meeting their needs in the best way possible, even if it means learning new types of technology to stay up with the current times and trends.    

How has this stretched my professional growth and development?

              Technology has changed how we communicate with one another; it has changed how instruction is done in the classroom.  In fact, with advances in technology, teaching is no longer bound by the four walls of the traditional classroom.  The popularity of online programs has enabled students to receive education anywhere in the world they may be at any time of day or night.  One of the most important implications for instructional methods and strategies used in higher education is “how” learning takes place and “how” students gain knowledge and skills.  Further implications would be how to assess learning in a technology-driven education. 

Prensky (2012) states, “Online learners are used to receiving information fast” (p. 70).  In reaching Online Learners, we need to keep the information fresh, flowing, and up to date.  These students are used to having access to information at their fingertip’s day and night.  However, we need to make sure it is accurate to get the information out there quickly.  As an instructor trying to increase my professional growth and development, the challenge is my responsibility to make sure the information given is accurate. 

Another area that I believe stretches my professional growth and development is assessment.  They also want to know the results of their assessments quickly to determine how they did.  As instructors, we need to provide helpful feedback and pose questions that will continue the learning, ultimately helping them assess their understanding and retention of the material being taught.  The accurate assessment comes in when they can demonstrate their knowledge by practicing what they have learned in their everyday lives.  

What are the implications of this week’s learning on my professional practice?

Today’s educators face the challenge of preparing individuals for a technology-driven society. Technology has not only changed how we communicate with one another; it has changed the way that instruction and content are disseminated in both the traditional brick and mortar classroom and the virtual classroom.  In fact, with advances in technology, teaching is no longer bound by the four walls of the conventional classroom.  The popularity of online programs, including podcasts, has enabled students to receive education and information anywhere in the world they may be at any time of day or night.  One of the most important implications for instructional methods and strategies used in higher education is “how” learning takes place and “how” students gain knowledge and skills.  Further implications would be how to assess learning in a technology-driven education. 

Technology has changed how we learn, think, teach, and assess students today.  It has also enabled us to provide information available to mass groups of students and instantaneous feedback.  Technology can be a double-edged sword, and I would use it wholeheartedly to benefit students’ learning process.  However, I am concerned about the lack of face-to-face communication that too much technology brings to the classroom.  Technology such as podcasts can effectively reach auditory learners (those who learn best by hearing, but I believe a well-rounded education, whether it be in the traditional classroom or the online classroom, should utilize multiple styles and modalities of communicating information being taught.
Further research and assessment will be necessary to determine whether technology has improved students’ education.  Some research suggests that interactions with technology allow students to actively engage in the learning process and develop their thinking skills.  However, the question remains: do they learn and retain information better than in previous generations?        

How can these new learnings impact my personal faith journey and my impact for the Kingdom?

            Psalms 119 verse 66 says, “Teach me knowledge…” (NIV).  This verse captures the essence of what this course means to me.  Not only do I seek knowledge, but I also want to impart my knowledge to others. As I have learned this past week, technology and podcasts are a great way of imparting that knowledge to all those who listen to them. The fact is technology, whether it be in the form of a podcast or some other form of media, is all around us, including in Sunday morning worship.  Reflecting on this last week, a couple of lines from Casting Crown’s song ‘Start Right Here’ came to mind.  It says, ‘We want our coffee in the lobby; we watch our worship on a screen.’ I grew up in a church where we used something called a hymnal to sing songs on Sunday morning.  It is in that same church that now, 51 years later, we use iWorship, and the music comes through the speakers, and the words are on a screen.  Much to my delight, we still sing hymns on Sunday morning, and I get the privilege of playing those hymns on the piano. 

            How has this all impacted my spiritual journey?  How does this new knowledge and technology impact the kingdom of Christ?  My answer is simply that technology is a significant catalyst for change in the way we disseminate the gospel to others.  It has even changed how I search for information in my spiritual journey.  For example, as I contemplated how to begin my writing for this section, I clicked on my bible app on my iPhone and typed in the word knowledge.  Within seconds, I had multiple verses containing the word ‘knowledge.’  Previously, I would have had to look in the index of my bible for the word and then flip through multiple pages to find the passage I was looking for. 

            Technology, especially podcasts, has enabled us to develop the spiritual journeys of believers worldwide via the internet.  I think about evangelists like Billy Graham, who reached millions of people for Christ through his ministry of crusades over the years.  It is incomprehensible to think how many more people he could reach today using podcasts.  I can’t help but wonder as I think about in Acts 1:8 where it says, ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ what that conversation between Jesus and the disciples would be like today.  Imagine what it would have been like if the disciples had the technology to spread the gospel like we have today over 2000 years later?  In summary, I have technology at my fingertips that will help me grow in my spiritual journey. Still, it is my responsibility to use that same technology to help others grow in their spiritual journey to make an even more significant impact for the kingdom together.