The Misunderstanding of Digital Pedagogy

After intense debating with myself, I have to agree with the statement that digital pedagogy is misunderstood by many. Thinking back on my own experiences in previous classes made me realize that most educators have wrongfully classified themselves as digital pedagogues.

The fact that you use a computer, PowerPoint slides or the internet in your lessons, does not make you a digital pedagogue because pedagogy does not mean to merely give information. In order for a person to engage in digital pedagogy, he/she needs to use digital tools to enhance the learning experience of students and not just use it because it is available and to make their job easier. Pedagogy is concerned with the vital exchange that takes place in order for learning to occur. This usually takes place between 2 or more people, for example: a teacher and a student or two or more students.

I believe in order for someone to be a digital pedagogue that person should be actively engaging in research about this subject because digital pedagogy is a discipline that is continuously developing and changing. Digital pedagogues need to constantly think of ways to use digital tools to better their education styles. Digital tools should inspire us (digital pedagogues) to use them in ways that no one ever thought of using them, rather than dictating us into ways of using them.

We shouldn’t think of students as merely being receivers of information but we should include them in the process of teaching. That’s why we can’t just feed them with information from Power Points. We need to use the technology available to create a flipped classroom where students are part of their own learning experience. This will help them get the capacity to learn things for themselves. Digital pedagogy should therefore be used to our advantage by including the students in the process and using technology to engage with each other and thus enhance the learning experience.

There is clearly a lot of space for improvement when it comes to digital pedagogy, but with the right mindset and the will to better our skills when it comes to this practice, I am sure that we can be the generation of educators that change the current misunderstanding of digital pedagogy.

Till next week…J