Meaningful Learning with Technology

Throughout my extensive education I do not believe I had a meaningful learning experience with technology until this current semester. Up until now, technology was just a means to an end. A way to submit assignments more efficiently or to save trees. My high school had more limited access to technology, so technology based projected had to be planned well in advanced by my teachers. In my undergrad, most of my assignments were simply essays that needed to be typed and occasionally could be turned in electronically. However, this semester I am taking a course about data literacy in social studies, and my professor is utilizing Scalar, an open source publishing website that allows us to easily upload visualizations and add text descriptions. The screenshot shown above was taken from our Scalar page.

As we learn about different types of data visualizations, we then have to actively search credible examples and add them to a classroom board. As Jonassen discusses in the article “What Is Meaningful Learning?” (2008), meaningful learning is active (pg. 7), so by having us look at the criteria for types of visualizations and then choosing examples for our class board we become more involved with the material. Additionally, Jonassen states that meaningful learning is constructive (pg. 7). By requiring each uploaded visualization to have an attached description on why it meets the necessary guidelines it ensures that we understand the material we have covered in class.

This site has many uses and could be helpful for upper elementary through secondary classrooms. Our professor wants us to expand our knowledge of how to use the platform so it could be used in our own classrooms to help students collaborate in groups, manipulate data for themselves, and present information to others. This has been the most meaningful use of technology in any part of my education thus far.