Teaching Pedagogy 2.0

This semester I have been forced to rethink some very core ideas about teaching and education. Questions about the purpose of secondary and tertiary education, the curriculum of English, Language Arts, and/or Composition courses, and the role of educators in the classroom have been floating around my brain for weeks now.

The biggest challenge that I have been faced with is the use of technology in the classroom. This issue takes precedent because the role one allows technology to take in his pedagogy is directly related to the way he views the purpose of education and curriculum. I have thought deeply about the use of computers in the secondary language arts classroom and have considered the challenges and potential pitfalls it poses. On the other hand, I have also pondered the potential that digital technology has in engaging and motivating students in a profound new way. Students need to learn to use technology as a tool and not to become technology indulgers as Cynthia Selfe would say.

One of the most interesting things to look at is the multitude of new genres that are developing thanks to the internet. Wikis, blogs, and web 2.0 necessitate new understanding of the terms author, audience, and ownership. Thinking critically about the political, social, and cultural implications of changing from a society centered on print to one centered on the digital word is crucial. Furthermore, digital literacy needs to be included in language arts curriculum because students are now using digital means of communication almost exclusively when outside the classroom. Communicating effectively should be one of the primary goals of language arts; however, communication and literacy take on new meanings in the digital age.

I still believe that the primary goal of teachers should be to foster critical thinking in their students. Students must learn to respond to a variety of ideas, developing their own unique positions. Whether students go on to continue their education or go straight into the workforce, complex thinkers create a better society. Likewise, civic literacy should be an essential part of the classroom because thoughtful citizens also create a better society. These may be idealistic notions, but I believe that teaching students to be responsible citizens is an important role of the educator.