Digital History for a Digital Generation

Author: William Ardern Curriculum Coordinator MacKillop Catholic College Warnervale NSW

“Do not confine children to your own learning, for they were born in another time.”

- Chinese proverb

“Our children…are the latest model of human being. Looking at the world of children is not looking backward at our own past – it’s looking ahead. They are our evolutionary future.”

- Rushkoff (1999) Playing the Future. p.4

To put things into context

Who are the children of the digital age?Who are the children of the digital age?

MyPod Generation

N-Gen

e-Generation

Generation D

Generation V Loli-boomers

Generation M Millennials

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Role ModelsRole Models Men of Character Men & Women of Character

What is Character?

“Recent research suggests that most variance in performance between students is actually explained by differences between classes, rather that schools. The suggestion is that it is teachers, not schools, that make the difference in student learning.”

Dr. Wayne Sawyer. UWS Research on HSC Successes (2002)

An effective classroom is based on the development of a positive relationship between teacher and students.

As the majority of teachers are from a previous generation, it is essential that they develop an awareness towards the values and aspirations of the generation that they attempt to teach.

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

TelevisionTelevision I love Lucy Happy days Reality TV

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Musical IconsMusical Icons Elvis Presley Madonna Eminem

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Music MediumsMusic Mediums LP’s & singles Cassettes & CD’s MP3’s

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

ComedyComedy The Goodies The Young Ones The Dudesons

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Computer Computer GamesGames

Pong Pacman Grand theft auto

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

MoneyMoney Earn it It is not everything

Give it to me

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Loyalty to Loyalty to employeremployer

Work my way to the top

Short cut to the top

Give me Saturday night off or I quit

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Respecting your Respecting your elderselders

Automatic Is polite Whatever

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

Meeting new Meeting new friendsfriends

Pen Pals Classifieds MySpace

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

CommunicationCommunication Letters Phone SMS

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

ChangeChange Resist it Accept it Want it

InfluenceInfluence Baby BoomersBaby Boomers Generation XGeneration X Generation YGeneration Y

TechnologyTechnology Ignorant of it Comfortable with it Masters of it

Life’s essentialsLife’s essentials

CommunicationCommunication

Methodology & PedagogyMethodology & Pedagogy

When I was taught history at school in the 1970’s, emphasis was placed upon….

- Date

- Place

- Event

- Historical facts

- Test

teacher centred

Julius Caesar invaded Britain in 48 BC

disengagementwrote learning

NCRELNCREL www.ncrel.org

The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) is a nonprofit organisation that is dedicated to helping schools and the students they serve reach their full potential.

Our children live in a global, digital world – a world transformed by technology and human ingenuity.

enGauge 21st Century Skills provides a framework and platform for educators do adapt the curriculum to suite the learning styles for the children of the digital Age.

The enGauge 21st Century Skills are a bridge to authentic and intellectually challenging work for students.

…”the ability to use digital technology, communications tools, and networks to access manage, integrate , evaluate and create information in order to function in a knowledge society.”Communication Technologies (ITC) Literacy panel. (2002). Digital Transformations: A framework for ICT Literacy. Princeton NJ

Source: Jeremy Nightingale

“In effect, because technology makes the simple tasks easier, it places a greater burden on higher-level skills.”Communication Technologies (ITC) Literacy panel. (2002). Digital Transformations: A framework for ICT Literacy. Princeton NJ

Castle Reconnaissance

“Information & communications technologies are raising the bar on the competencies needed to succeed in the 21st century.”21st Century Literacy Summit. (2002,). 21st Century literacy in a convergent media world. p.6

“We are living in a new economy – powered by technology, fueled by information, and driven by knowledge.”U.S. Department of Labor. (1999). Futurework: Trends and challenges for work in the 21st Century. Washington, DC. P.1

Digital HistoryA sample of topic areas

Digital History

NSW Board of Studies

Stage 4 History Syllabus

Norman conquest activity

Structure of feudal society – knights, church,

peasant

Life of a peasant – empathy task

Personalities: William I,

BraveheartArchitecture

- castles

e journal activities

Life in a peasant village video