Terri,
Yes, so any kind of student access requires teacher guidance and lots of practice and application to make good use of the resources and technology.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Exposure to new ideas, concepts in a non pressure/I am in control mode. There may also be ill informed bits of info, but with many inputs there is is also an opportunity to assess the bits.
Terri,
How do you think this connectivity enhances the potential for learning?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Nomadic learners are described as having a connectedness to a culture of wireless and mobile communication. We integrate classroom time with mailed assignments requiring web search, the three Cs, PP development and oral presentation. On the way to the Resource Center (library with computers) students walk out downloading the assignment from their cells. This is connected.
(Please, understand most students do not have this access.)
James,
Interesting points, James. I like the observation of the watches - I actually wear a watch that doesn't work so use my phone to check tie :) It seems the challenge of learning time management skills is a life-longhand ongoing pursuit...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
When students "seek" information, rather than being forced to follow old-fashioned structure of learning by rout, they are more engaged and passionate about learning. It's exciting to see kids use technology to access information and absorb it in new ways. These and innovative "learning moments" are some of fun rewards of embracing new technology.
Interesting observation about the generational difference between those who wear wrist watches and those who don't. Kids born in the technology era don't think of wearing wrist watches because they use their mobile devices to check the time. However, I have noticed the current era of students seem to be more challenged by time management than previous generations.
Although wrist watches are old fashioned, they provided the analog era of learners with a prominently tangible prompt to check the time. It would be interesting to see studies on the ability of digital generation kids to effectively use time management.
Juan,
Indeed - connectivity is now continuous and seamless; without the boundaries and constraints that used to curtail teaching and learning. How do you think this benefits the learning process specifically?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Today's students can be referred to nomadic learners because they can access course content, participate in class and submit assignments from virtually any geographic location. This is compounded by the variety of ways they can establish their connection. ie. smart phones, desktop, wireless laptop, and now tablets.
Aaron,
Good points, Aaron, however, society as a whole uses new technology and is therefore affected by it. Therefore, even if I don't have access directly, I experience it at school, hospital, other homes, malls, stores etc. As such, we as instructors can maximize the exposure through courses and instructional design and help all students succeed.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I shall assume that "this generation" is operationalized as middle class students entering college directly after graduating from high school as most poor and nontraditional college students do not fit into the category of "nomadic" learners.
Because many middle class learners (and above) have been given ready access to technology, they are often able to interact with the world digitally and from virtually anywhere. They are nomads in several senses: they can access their social network / information from anywhere, they transition, often seemlessly, between the digital and analog worlds, and can more easily adapt to new but familiar technological settings.
They are nomadic because their social connections are flexible and mobile. They have learned how to use the internet and other areas of technology to learn. They are better at learning from these areas of information than from just the classroom and the teacher. The class format must take advantage of a student's needs for learning.
Miguel,
That is true and the contexts of learning expand and are enriched by the varied inputs and connectivity. This also changes the overall expectations of the students and must change the role and focus of the instructor.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Students now a days can access information from any location. No longer being bound to a class room. That why they are referred to as nomadic.
Alan,
So conventional ideas of a class are challenged in the sense that students can obtain material and information from anywhere and connect with whomever in their learning process. Things are not as confined as before and this, along with the connectivity you refer to, totally redefine education.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
As an instructor you will be challenged to find a student in your campus classroom without a smart phone in their hand,ear phones with music, and a blue tooth in the other ear. Texting is a birth right and shall not be interfered with by the learning process. Our role as facilitators is to deliver the knowledge in such a way as to engage the student in a familiar medium. It is this new delivery that is more of a challenge to the instructors than learning is to the student.
Yes, Juanita, and given the ubiquitous distribution of the technology, as you mention, and the capabilities of the technology to wirelessly connect students anywhere at anytime, and the mobile technical reality of instant connection, the notion of the "nomadic" student is even more accurate.
This generation of Nomadic Learner is more technology advanced due to all the hi tech mobile devices and wireless devices that are available today. Several years ago this was not so affordable for the general population. Now it's more affordable and a must have for all.
The nomadic characteristics of the current students enhance the learning experience because they are constantly pushing the envelope. From requiring interactive multimedia lesson plans for electronic delivery to virtually interactive classroom environments. The students are also more adapt in technology which means that they are also contributing to the material that is out there which in itself expands the educational geography.
You make some strong points, Deborah, and I agree that expectations of communication are changing. I do think, however, that with the advent of social media there are greater possibilities for connection - too much is not necessarily a good thing as you say, however, I have lived in many countries around the world and thanks to FB, for example, I have been able to connect with many friends I would have otherwise disconnected from for good. What I am suggesting is that the technology itself can be used well for specific purposes and that is the challenge of using it in instruction.
