Digital Technology and Learning

Rationale for using the construction of a class magazine as a firm of collaborative learning in the classroom.

The collaborative task of constructing and publishing a class magazine allows students to personally identify their own current cultural skills, knowledge and interests, and offer these skills to the group (Bower, 2017.). This constructivist approach results in students contributing to the magazine with confidence because they are extending their existing knowledge. This is because they are not trying to cognitively adjust to a subject area they are not interested in or ready to learn which Piaget reports is not beneficial to their learning or growth because they were unable to discover the information for themselves (Bergin, 2023.). A class magazine also allows students to explore multiple digital technologies, including publishing and web design/hosting, that is not available in a classroom without technology, resulting in skills and knowledge to ready them for future study and place in Australian society and world of work as envisioned by MCEETYA and MCVTE in 2008 (Thomson, 2015.).

Finally, critical analysis and thinking skills are also developed through constructivist learning and activities such as a class magazine because students are required to make critically informed decisions about the technologies available to the when preparing their articles and publishing their magazine. These skills will also allow them to continue to be critical consumers and users of digital technologies in future lessons and workplaces of the future.

Bibliography

Bergin. C, Bergin. D, Walker. S, Daniel. G, Fenton. A & Subban. P. (2023). Child & Adolescent Development for Educators, Cengage Learning Australia Pty Ltd.

Bower, M. (2017). Pedagogy and Technology-Enhanced Learning. Chapter 3. Design of Technology-Enhanced Learning. Emerald Publishing.

Thomson, S. (2015). Policy insights: Australian students in a digital world #3, Australian Council for Educational Research.