Digital Devon... Digital Decisions
It is January and it has snowed in Devon! Well a light dusting... It makes me think about our approach to Digital Learning in schools. Some departments have a full coverage of digital learning utilising almost every tool they can find to enhance teaching and learning whilst others just have a dusting of digital tools where they think the are needed. Which is the right approach? Is the completely digital classroom removing some of the traditional skills that students used to gain through using paper based materials? There is something quite special turning the pages in a text book and a sense of achievement that students gain when they get to the end of the book - I know I certainly felt that in school.
But how does E-Paper effect student feelings towards progress? I collect virtually all of my work in via our VLE and assess it electronically and then feedback to students online. Are the students missing out on a physical piece of paper in their hands?
Over the next few weeks I will trial both methods with my group - feeding back to the group in 2 different formats and seeing which the students prefer, but most importantly which I can see will have an impact upon future progress.
Update November 2013
I think my answer is that it depends upon the end assessment.... If your students are going to take a written exam that is paper based give them those experiences along the way! My students have found it hard to transfer digital skills to paper skills.
