Understanding technology and digital creativity: making a case for a new school subject
Understanding technology and digital creativity are vital in primary schools. So why aren’t we providing our students with the right tools?
It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that the youth of today outshine most adults when it comes to sheer technology knowledge. You know that super hip messaging app your friend told you about? Your neighbor who just turned eleven used it a year ago, got bored and now uses the successor (of the successor) to that very app.
With this in mind, it is important for educational institutions to have the right tools to develop students’ abilities and safely guide their movements in the digital universe.
By offering students able devices (such as Acer’s ConceptD line of computers), digital tools and programs or apps that are intuitive, fun and easy to use, students can not only acquire new knowledge but at the same time make their classroom experience much more interactive and creative.
We believe that the proper use of technology nurtures a positive behavior in students, who then feel more engaged with their classmates, teachers and also the subjects they are taught. In the long run this will result in a more effective learning experience and to gain the best results both teachers and students must be able to speak the same “language”.
Digital creativity is crucial
Acer is a technology partner at the Future Classroom Lab (FCL), which is part of the EU collaboration European Schoolnet. Denmark is represented in the project in the form of the Center for Teaching Aids (CFU). For the past two years, we have followed the Future Classroom Lab closely and witnessed their experiments with the development of an entirely new school subject – technology understanding. A full report with results is expected to be published when the project is completed, but one thing is already certain – a large part of the topic should and will be built on the concept of digital creativity.
Although the subject itself naturally will cover topics such as how to safely navigate the often complex high seas of our ever expanding virtual world, it is even more important to expand on the opportunities that exist.
Or to put it simple – we need to help young people take the crucial step from being just plain digital consumers to becoming virtual creators.
”Great, so we’ll teach them how to code. Simple, eh?”
Well, mastering some or maybe even a few of these new languages surely is one part of the solution. But so is showing kids how an app is built, what a computer looks like on the inside and how a robot works. Only with this insight can children and young people also understand the possibilities and limitations that these amazing technical tools bring.
ConceptD assists both teacher and student
So, where to start? We suggest by investing in good, purpose built hardware. Acer’s ConceptD series of computers has been specifically designed for creative work in the digital sphere and thus is the perfect tool for creatives. ConceptD Windows 10 Pro devices can help schools to prepare students for the future by providing a platform for collaborating, exploring, personalized learning and productivity.
For example, all Acer ConceptD computers have monitors that are PANTONE® validated and achieve 100 percent of Adobe’s RGB® color spectrum and Delta E <2 color accuracy. This means that the colors displayed on the screen are 100 percent true to life, a necessity for those who work with visual elements. This applies, for example, to the popular ConceptD 3 Ezel.
Digital creativity also requires a lot of muscle. Aand we´re not talking about going to the gym, even though this has its own benefits to creativity according to research. Weak processors and aged graphics cards may put a wet, soggy blanket on just about any vivid vision. Fortunately, Acer’s ConceptD products live up to the strictest of requirements, with hardware ready to unleash and power any creative mind – without hiccups. This includes not running out of steam, which is why the aforementioned ConceptD 3 offers battery life of up to 30 hours.
Take your creativity to the next level – contact us to discover more about ConcepD: acerforeducation.emea@acer.com