The Pedagogics

FOSS technology and upper elementary students

Pedagogy – Meaningful opportunities in later elementary years.


As the student progresses into the older elementary years the possibility of engaging with technology in a meaningful way is increased and the possibilities of including more advanced and diverse software expands. I think that FOSS becomes very relevant to teachers and students in grades four through eight. However the challenge is on the teacher to find, understand and use the technology that best suits the objectives of the class and lends itself to the learning styles of the students.

Internet research, blogging, creative applications and multimedia tasks all have a place within this age group and if chosen appropriately, have the potential to provide the opportunity to utilize existing knowledge and continuously develop new knowledge. Integrated well within the curriculum, technology tools can engage learners who get little from traditional means and can give other students opportunities to apply knowledge in new ways. In a paper titled Multimedia Encourages New Learning Styles, David Thornburg expresses the optimism that multimedia technology provides in engaging students in a non-linear, media rich way while cautioning that the purpose of education is “to engage, not entertain the learner.”

Another article that explores the benefits fo a multimedia approach to education is Mutimedia and Multiple Intelligences by Shirley Veenema and Howard Gardner.

FOSS supports the integration of electronic technology into the curriculum and offers teachers affordable options for its use. However, the role of the teacher never changes as they are responsible for determining what suits the objectives of the class and the developmental challenges of the students. The teacher is still the primary educator who builds the curriculum on all appropriate technologies including non-electronic technologies.

posted by The Pedagogics @ 11:58 AM