Many teachers, and parents, realize that in the 21st Century teaching and learning has changed. The principles of content will no doubt be enduring however the mediums in which we teach them are changing.
Technology is more apparent in our everyday lives both in and outside the classrooms. Technology in the classroom has been argued by some as being ineffective and distracting. I wonder if they have talked to a child who has used technology to learn to read, or improved their math skills playing with educational software. Have they seen the quality and variety of data a child has been able to source for a project by using the internet? Have they witnessed the dedication that children will put in to mastering a game online or on a games console? Harnessing that passion to educate our children must surely be the way to developing their skills and knowledge. But we must ensure we are providing them with the right content not just mindless games.
We also need to make the distinction between teaching using the technology that is available to engage our young learners but also about teaching them how to use the technology. It is not just about using the internet to research a project in isolation but the wider application of the skills used such as collaboration, developing problem solving skills, working on real world problems and working as a group. For teachers to move forward we need to embrace the 21st Century by teaching using technology and teaching about how to use technology.
The technology landscape is and will continue to be rapidly changing. The content available will grow exponentially. Our learners need to understand how to adapt and navigate their way effectively through the volume and change. However, when it comes to educational reform while the specialists agree on many of the ingredients, few can agree on the path we should take and the role technology should play.
We should be looking at how to use technology to advance the capabilities of our kids. Since technology touches nearly every aspect of our lives, do we really believe that it can be anything other than a fundamental part of school reform? Technology is a critical aspect of advancing our classrooms, and our greatest potential resource for the future…our children.
When you combine innovation and the teaching potential of the internet and other technologies available to support learning with the passion and commitment of teachers – children will win. We need to be creating technology solutions that engage kids in the learning process. The potential is massive to grow their potential if we can accept that technology is a fundamental part in their education.
Tags: engineering and technology education, technology education