Pedagogy before Technology

  It's 1995 and I'm a fifth grader working on a project in the library. I'm learning how to design a webpage that will showcase my research over the "Chinese New Year." I've gathered the most interesting facts I want on my page, and I'm learning from my librarian how to code text onto the site. I realized, even back then, I was creating something advanced and totally new. Jump ahead to 1999, and I'm really only ever on a computer at school if I'm typing an English paper on a word processor, and I'm a homesick High School Sophomore sitting in my basement in Ohio, dialing up AOL to see if my bff back home in El Paso is online so we can chat.  I am an Older Millennial and both of these core memories are connected to technology, like so many of our students today. However, a significant difference that sets my generation a part, is we still have more memories attached to moments nondigital compared to any generation in America that has come after us. Now, 30 years later, it's 2025 and technology has impacted my two teenage since in every classroom, both educationally through access to resources, personalized inquiry, collaborative opportunities, and skill practice and socially through connectivity and entertainment. 

        As an educator for 17 years, I have repeatedly utilized the levels of learning and understanding classified under Bloom's Taxonomy when creating lessons to meet the expected rigor of a standard. My teaching journey began when access to technology was just beginning to become more available and in many ways was used as a device for practicing a skill in a game format, or used to create a presentation for a project. While many teachers resisted using student computers and iPads in the early days, my view of using technology as a resource was more optimistic. I feel technology is a valuable tool for learning and has the potential to be the foundation upon which we build learning. Technology has dramatically reshaped how students learn and how society functions at large, and the idea that technology can be used to enhance the learning experience for students caused an updated Bloom's Taxonomy to incorporate technology in a way that personalizes learning and encourages critical thinking. Bloom's Digital Taxonomy offers students the ability to build a strong foundation of learning that continues to develop cognitive learning skills alongside digital materials and resources. 

    Librarians are digital technology goldmines. While teachers are experts in content and student levels of learning and growth, librarians understand ways in which digital tools can be included for demonstrating understanding or for practicing a skill. Librarians are also a resource for digital materials that personalize learning for students. As the nature of technology is rapidly evolving, the field of educational technology is in hot pursuit. Future librarians must also build a strong foundation in digital literacy in order to best serve the learning needs of our students. 

A growing concern in classrooms and in school buildings is an increase in disruptive behaviors that impedes the learning of others. From K-12 Blueprint, when students are empowered to investigate learning that is valuable to them, behavior measures improve.   

    Access to technology is still not uniformly available to all students in all communities, but school libraries will continue to be impacted by the changing technological landscapes. Especially when the library supports the goals and mission of the school and is dedicated to empowering the learning of students. Not all students have access to a device with an AI tool to help on projects, but the librarian will provide resources. Librarians will adapt digital literacy instruction to meet the needs of future ready learners in the library and support teachers in the classroom. 

References:

• Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy | Common Sense Education. (n.d.). Common Sense Education. https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/blooms-digital-taxonomy
• Churches, A. (2007). Edorigami, Bloom’s taxonomy and digital approaches. http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Bloom%27s+and+ICT+tools
• The First Marist Mindset List is Released. (n.d.). Marist College. https://www.marist.edu/w/marist-news-the-first-marist-mindset-list-is-released
• POST 1: WEB and AI Online tools for creating. (2024). Kathy Schrock. https://www.kathyschrock.net/kaffeeklatsch/web-and-ai-online-tools-for-creating
• Toolkits. (n.d.). K-12 Blueprint. https://www.k12blueprint.com/toolkits