January 20th, 2022

   

My Experience with Microsoft Word

     My use of Microsoft Word has varied greatly between elementary and higher education. It was the primary word processing software I used in 3rd through 5th grades, mainly in a program I was in called "Enrichment," where students went once or twice a week to participate in extracurricular activities such as website creation, gardening and composting, and, of course, writing essays and other documents. This use of Word, as well as other programs such as PowerPoint, got me accustomed to Microsoft. However, in middle and high school, I primarily used Google Docs. My school used Google Classroom to assign work and track grades, and Docs was the most compatible software with that program. In my Career Preparedness class, though, I became certified in three different Microsoft programs: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. This was one of the only times I used Microsoft programs in high school. I usually prefer to use Google Docs simply because it autosaves. Word is more advanced and has more features, but the ability to easily share and save Docs is what I prefer. 

    ISTE Standards for Educators

    Out of the ISTE Standards for Educators, the one that stands out as most imperative to me is to be a Collaborator. Teachers who have worked with my fellow students and I have always stood out in my brain because they see us as individuals rather than uninformed children. I also think that every teacher should know how to work with their coworkers, and a collaborator would do that well. Teaching is a people-centric career, and if someone doesn't work well with others, whether it be their peers and coworkers or their students, it can be detrimental to the learning and progress of those around them. 

    Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants in Education

    I don't believe that the term "digital native" can be applied to every member of my generation. It is true that most of us grew up with some form of technology and are apt with it, but using a blanket term to describe our technological literacy is generalizing. A digital native is someone who grew up with and is very experienced in using technology and who prefers to use technology over other forms of media. Perhaps this may describe many people in Generation Z, but not all of us reject the "old ways" of learning or entertaining in favor of tech. 

    The main difference between my generation and our educators in technological literacy is that one learned as they grew up, and the latter had to learn much later. This can mean that teachers from older generations may struggle with the constant changes to the technology used in classrooms. I specifically remember two occasions when my school replaced the smart boards, in elementary school, and then in high school. My teachers struggled to grow accustomed to the new board both times, because they were removed and replaced in a matter of days across the entire school. Perhaps the struggles that older "digital immigrant" teachers experience is not due to the complexity of the tech, but the speed at which it changes. I believe that as long as technology continues to progress at the speed that it does, we digital natives will encounter the same struggles with technological adaptation in education that our teachers experienced. 

Badges

    I have not had much experience with digital badges, but I have encountered them a few times, mostly on apps and in technology such as the Apple watch fitness features and the Bible app. Both of these reward users with badges based on completion of tasks or challenges. I have earned Apple fitness badges for setting fitness goals for myself. I don't share these, mostly because there's not an easy way to do so. However, on the Bible app, my badges are shared with those that follow my account, which consists of some of my friends and fellow church members. I have received badges there for completing reading programs or reaching goals that I have not previously hit, such as time spent in the app or the amount of material I have highlighted or shared. Overall, I think badges can be a fun way to reach goals and push yourself to work harder. There's just something about earning those little shields that pop up on your phone that can be surprisingly motivating.