What is digital pedagogy?

Digital pedagogy, for those of us who do not speak academic or technology, is an arranged marriage between the technological tools and resources we have available to us and our teaching philosophy. We live in a world where communication is so much more than simply speaking to another person. That, in fact, seems to be part of a vintage era. We are not considered real friends unless we are official Facebook friends (and we like at least three posts and two shares a day!) Thus, we cannot ignore what is in front of us, or more importantly, what is in front of our children. There has been a lot of feedback on the negative effects of technology on children - increased exposure to violence, deteriorating interpersonal and communication skills and attention problems. So is the solution to ban this new age appendage? No, I fear if we do that we will cement the divide between 'old' and 'new' ways. Instead, let's give a positive spin to the gadgets and tools we have at our literal fingertips. Technology allows us as teachers to expose wonders of the world to children in ways that twenty years ago they would not even have dreamed of. We can show them the bottom of the ocean floor, as well as the inside of an atom, and listen to the heartbeat of a developing feotus. It provides new ways of learning, ways that may access the minds and imaginations of students that may otherwise have been dulled by the traditional form of print on paper. In conjunction with effective teaching philosophy and methods, the digital age brings with it new insights into creating sustainable teaching practices. We can teach our children how to learn and not simply what to learn. Yes, technology can become a crutch for children and adults alike, however, if an effort is made by teachers to include technology, those same teachers can do what they do best. That is to guide the learner towards independent and critical thought, creating an environment that empowers them to choose what to look at and what to post next. One type of creative and inspiring environment is the flipped classroom promoted by Ken Robinson. These new approaches need to be pioneered by us, the next generation of teachers. As we speed into the next Era of E-learning, we best kit ourselves well, it is going to be one helluva ride!