Session 31

Title: Enhancing Meaningful Learning with Technology for Digital Natives and All Learners

Session Description:

Teaching digital natives has become a daunting task for today’s educators (Considine, Horton & Mooreman, 2009). The digital natives find it easy to switch seamlessly between web sites, wikis and social networking sites – remaining connected via technology is critical. To these students, computers are not seen as technology, they are an assumed part of life, as too, is multi-tasking. As a result, it is important that this generation of learners digital is taught effective memory strategies to help with learning and thinking skills (Klemm, 2007).

Due to their unique learning styles and social interaction skills, educators should explore new pedagogical styles and approaches to effectively educate the digital natives as well as other learners in modern classrooms. By having a better understanding of digital and other learners, instructors could build on their prior knowledge bases and engage and motivate them to be successful in the classroom. For instance, instructors should take into account whether the course offered includes the “traditional” learning theories and the social learning theory with the reality of the digital world.

There is also need for instructors to consider whether and how to incorporate new technologies in their teaching process (Ellison & Wu, 2008) to support meaningful learning for all students. Specifically, instructors should develop and incorporate effective techniques to improve students’ learning. However, the goal of technology in education is to integrate technology into the classroom so its use advances learning goals and helps students focus on the subject, not the technology (Wachira, Keengwe, Onchwari, 2008). This presentation explores the implications of educational technologies on student learning. In practice, instructors in modern technology-rich classrooms must take the unique learning styles of learners into account when designing the curriculum as well as the learning environments.

Presenter: Dr. Keengwe

Dr. Keengwe is a faculty member at the University of North Dakota. His primary research interests are focused on computer technology integration and constructivist pedagogical approach to teaching and learning. Dr. Keengwe’s research has resulted in more than 50 refereed publications in journals and conference proceedings. He is the co-editor of Adult Learning in the Digital Age: Perspectives on Online Technologies and Outcomes – a premier reference source for computer science and information technology management.