Technology and Bloom's Revised Taxonomy

It is no secret that technology is a critical component of today’s education.  Some sort of technology can be found in every American classroom, to some degree.  There are schools that are much more “ahead” of the game, and many schools that are behind.  I believe that educators are not trying to drag their feet when it comes to using technology to be a 21^st century teacher, or when it comes to teaching 21^st century students, the way they need to be taught.  Consider the several challenges teachers face when it comes to educating the 21^st century student.  Lack of funding for technology or technological programs; lack of awareness or education of teachers about potential technological tools; and perhaps the biggest challenge- being forced to measure 20^th century learning via 20^th century methods (standardized testing).  Teachers are overwhelmed by the number of state or national standards (TEKS/Common Core) and therefore shackled to old ways of teaching.  I think that any good educator knows the importance of technology for today’s “digital natives” (Presnky, 2005) and does their best to embrace it in their classrooms.  Is there a gap between the natives and the immigrants?  Yes.  The students sitting in classrooms and filling schools have lived very different lives than that of their aged teachers.  I would not consider myself to be “old” but in reading Beloit College's Mindset List (Beloit, 2015)), I felt ancient.  But that doesn’t mean that I give less credit to technology or want less to do with it.  As times change, so do we, and any good educator is going to try their best to accept the changes, grow and perfect their trade.  There are definitely teachers in schools that are having to readjust their view of technology (or should be).  But there are also young teachers entering the profession, that relate much better to these “digital natives” and they are the hope for closing the gap and embracing the digital age.   

The point remains, technology is key to learning, which leads to the question, is technology a tool for learning or the foundation of learning?  This almost appears to be a trick question.  In today’s world, you can’t seem to have meaningful engaged learning without technology.  However, can you have technology without learning?  Prensky makes a valid point when he says that “prerequisites for learning are engagement and motivation,” (Prenksy. 2005) which come from technology, for today’s learners.  In that case, technology is the foundation of learning.  However, I deem technology to actually be more a tool for learning than the actual foundation.  Learning can, actually, happen without technology.  Is it good learning?  Is it engaged?  Will it get every kid in the room?  Probably not.  When listening to and reading Mark Prensky’s statements from "Listen to the Natives", he seems to refute that technology is a tool for education, which is opposite of Andrew Church and Kathy Schrock’s stance on the role of technology in education. (Church, 2009; Schrock, 2011)  Technology is looked as a tool for learning, when matched up to the Revised Bloom’s Taxonomy verbs listed in Churches' paper and on Schrock’s site.  Honestly, I think regardless of which view one sides with (technology being the foundation of learning or technology being a tool for learning) the point is that technology is essential for today’s learners to dig deep, really learn, and compete in the modern world.  Regardless of challenges, teachers must embrace the significance of technology and do their best to incorporate it into every facet of the day.  Looking at the Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy, it is apparent that technology can be significantly used in achieving higher order thinking skills.  The original Bloom’s Taxonomy verbiage was nouns.  The revised verbiage uses verbs, which is key for today’s learners.  We have transitioned to a “doing” world of education, and technology is the facet of “doing.”  If we want to really reach the “digital natives,” and truly get them to master higher order thinking, we need to use technology, hand in hand with Bloom’s verbs.  If teachers do not use technology as a tool for learning, they are simply not allowing students to reach their fullest potential.

As a Library Media Specialist in a school, we are assisting students in their learning endeavors.  This begins with getting them engaged.  I loved what Prensky said about talking with students and getting their input.  He said to ask them what they thought would work best for something, and then lobbying for that.  I think librarians (and educators) have to both learn what students want, and introduce them to new forms of technology to help them achieve higher order thinking and success in today’s world. 

If I had to explain why a certain app was necessary for my library, I would definitely frame the request in terms of Digital Taxonomy, as I believe this resonates more with administration.  I think that administration would want to see the benefit of an app and how it’s going to help students achieve learning.  I would point out Schrock’s site, http://www.schrockguide.net/bloomin-apps.html, namely the graphic that depicts how Bloom’s works with the SAMR model.  I would then point out where the app fit, in the SAMR model, or aspects of the app that fit in different parts of the SAMR model.  In addition, I would justify the purchase of the app by showing where it fit on the Bloom’s wheel and why it would be engaging for students.  

Works Cited:
Prensky, M. (2005). Listen to the natives. Learning in the Digital Age, 64(4), 8-13. Retrieved from https://shsu.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-1836281-dt-content-rid-9232574_1/courses/LSSL539101216/el200512_prensky.pdf

Churches, A. (2009). Bloom's digital taxonomy. Retrieved from https://shsu.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-1836281-dt-content-rid-9238178_1/courses/LSSL539101216/Bloom%27s%20Digital%20taxonomy%20v3.01.pdf

Schrock, K. (2011). Bloomin' apps - Kathy Schrock's guide to everything. Retrieved from http://www.schrockguide.net/bloomin-apps.html

Beloit Colloge. (2015). The mindset list: 2019 list. Retrieved from https://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2019/