Unplugging Digital Pedagogy

 Digital Pedagogy, the use of electronic tools to change the way in which we educate, has become an integral part of 21^st century education. What Paul Fyfe, in his article “Digital Pedagogy Unplugged”, questions, however, is whether one must “pull the plug” on digital mediums in order to expand or make proper use of human creativity in developing pedagogy. Some fear that using digital tools too integratively in the classroom may limit the student or learner in terms of analogous information processing, or in other words, using their own brains, and their intrinsic creativity and capabilities.

Others, however, argue that we may need to reconcile electronic and analog pedagogy in order to combine and optimise their various strengths. What would this look like? According to Fyfe, this would be like “teaching naked” within technological use. “Teaching naked” is the term used to describe analog or purely human pedagogy without the use of the digital to assist in educating.

I would imagine this concept to incorporate the use of digital tools or technology in all its forms (whether electronic or not) in such a way that it encourages analog thought and human creativity in the student, instead of fulfilling certain thought processes for them.

In sum, I personally view technology, or the use of digital tools within education, as extremely vital in our development, whether it be human or technological. The possibilities are limitless in terms of what learners and students may be capable of when digital pedagogy is used optimally.