Digital Pedagogy Explained

There is much confusion regarding what digital pedagogy is. To put it as simply as possible, digital pedagogy is not the same as online teaching. Online teaching is basically going online, doing activities and interacting digitally (Can only be done on electronically devices like computers or tablets). Pedagogy refers to the method teachers use to facilitate learning. Digital pedagogy, then, refers to tools teachers use to educate learners. These tools can be a variety of things, from watching a movie that corresponds with a book that is being handled in class, to doing research on a specific topic/subject. To my understanding, digital pedagogy is using tools that are available to support effective teaching and learning. Coming back to the movie, it is important to understand that everyone does not learn the same. Exposing them to the movie, might help them to grasp the main theme of the book that is being dealt with.   

In its essence, the term pedagogue means to lead a child. @slumteacher makes the statement that all teachers are not digital pedagogues and I completely agree with him. Think about the teacher you had in high school. The one who gives answers immediately after asking questions, convincing you that this is all you need for the exams. That is not leading a child (learner) to become critical thinkers and it certainly does not encourage the learner to engage. To lead, in a sense, means to give directions  and also make tool accessible for learners to figure things out on their own or to make the learning process as easy as possible, but also sustainable. Teachers need to get on the same level as the learners and explore with them, the many ways of learning.

Of course, digital pedagogy is not only limited to the classroom.  Digital pedagogy can be used in online teaching. Remember the days when internet was not invented yet? Can you tell me that some of those teachers were not digital pedagogues? Of course they were. Papers, pens and textbooks were once “new technology”.

                                                                                                   

To us it this is not strange, because it became our way of life. The same can be said for generations to follow. What is new to us will eventually become their way of life. Therefore, new methods of learning have to come forward and it looks like the bar is set. Digital pedagogy does now mean, incorporating the latest technology to facilitate learning for next generation, on a level that they understand.   

The Digital Pedagogue

The Digital Pedagogue…

Dear Mr Fyfe and lecturer, I will put this as bluntly as I please… I hated the wonderfully written piece on Digital Pedagogy and all its surrounding debates. Most people I know, myself included, don’t have the time or resources to help visionaries like Stephen Ramsay or Brad Pasanek combat the actual frightening revelation of students losing their practical, one could almost say social aspect of learning. Electronics and the Microsoft based tools are here to stay and that happened before I even was a twinkle in someone’s eye. Here’s my dilemma, why should I give a sh!t about lost creativity when I have no children. True I am being an @$$, but let me put it this way, because I am starting to feel hungry. Food will represent educational knowledge, our crippling methods of digital pedagogy will represent me ordering the food, going to get the food strikes the balance between the methods of Stephen and Panasek, to strive towards a less technological method of teaching “DH”. Why should I get into my parents car and drive all the way to my local take-out joint, use petrol, get stuck in traffic and wait in line to order?  When I can just use my mom’s airtime and order the food, free delivery… I don’t have to tip. So why should major companies re-utilize their program tools, just because a few out of the box thinkers demand our digital humanities program become less technological? The billionaire company owners only think of profit and major change, especially good change comes at a high cost. I do agree with Mr Fyfe, too many slide shows wreck the brain. I got power point slide shows and pdf’s pouring out my sensitive bits. But I choose the strict, one-way method of digital pedagogy as it is. Like the billionaire company owner, change is not what I am looking for, it wouldn’t be cost efficient. Everybody needs /wants efficient, affective education. Let’s just consider it, the educational system might be rigged. People just don’t care enough about these things, strict parents, teachers and now these strict digital educational programs. The door bel rang, must be my take-out.