EDUC 932 Blog Post #2: Why Digitize Learning?

The ISTE published its newly reenvisioned 2016 ISTE Standards for students only days ago.  For those of us transitioning into greater implementation of educational technology in our classrooms, the Standards are useful guidelines for lesson planning regardless of how deeply we have integrated technology in our lessons so far.

(image credit: pixabay.com)

Here are some ways that ‘digitizing’ assignments to meet ISTE’s standards can improve and enrich student learning.  As an example, I’ll describe how I intend to use the standards to inform my implementation of a makerspace within my 5th grade classroom next semester.
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1. Data Collection: Students can create a survey using google docs or our classroom blog to gather data from their classmates to further define the problem and seek ideas from their peers about solutions. (Standards 1c, 2b, 3d, 5b)
2. Planning and Design: Students use online mind-mapping programs to brainstorm elements of their design solution, and model their design using drawing programs and 3-D modelling. (Standards 2b, 3d, 4a, 4b, 4d, 7c)
3. Documenting the Process: Students use digital media such as video and photographs to document the design process and stages of creation of prototypes. (Standards 4c, 7c)
4. Sharing and Critique: Students create a presentation or video to share their solution and present it to the class and classroom parents.  Presentations will be shared on our class social media platform for constructive feedback.  (Standards 1c, 2a, 2b)

These are just a few of the ways that our classroom makerspace, already a great chance for authentic learning and innovation, can be made an even richer experience by working to meet ISTE’s Student Standards.  What are some other ways to improve our makerspace experience with tech? Share your ideas in the comments section!

UPDATE (2016-7-7): I've created some resources and an exemplar for my students to use during their makerspace presentations.  Check it out!