Looking back at the first chapters of the book, It is clear that eduction is making a huge transition for the traditional classroom to the digital world. Web 2.0, the second generation of the internet and all the tools that come along with it will enhance learning in so many ways, and has begun through my own education and teaching. Discussions on blackboard have been a great example of cooperative learning and collaboration through distance education with the use of such technology.
Too often students in the traditional classroom are becoming more and more bored with the same thing, and have a difficult time bridging the lack of technology with their real world. For example, social networking has been the new way for students to reach out to those with a depth of knowledge in areas where teachers just are not equipped with that knowledge. Critical thinking is becoming in itself a search through commingling knowledge from the classroom with knowledge found through the internet. Technology is the enhanced classroom, and with more teachers utilizing these tools in their classroom, students will learn to think for themselves, while seeking out distant professionals with a wealth of knowledge. I use RSS to keep up to date on LEED Building and new innovative practices in the field of construction. I get to listen and even watch podcasts that show first hand the process of these new innovative techniques to share with my classroom.
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that over 87% of our students have online access to the internet, but websites become less and less accessible to our students in the classroom due to regulations set by the administration in public schools. This is a time for change and we need to show our students more trust when it comes to the use of internet access in the classroom. Teachers need to keep up to date on how students use 21st century internet tools so we can enhance the classroom environment, and reach students as they would in the new technological world they live in today. Relevance should be our first goal in education, and we are teachers that are being surpassed by the students in the classroom today because of the constantly changing technology. Understanding our students is key to their education and engagement. Without understanding who we are teaching, and teaching to the new generation, we will never reach our students. 97% of our students own a computer and 94% of those students own a cell phone. These students use these pieces of technology to learn on a daily basis in the real world they are constantly navigating, why not use these tools to teach them the subjects we are charged to teach them.
Sure, there are digital native teachers and digital immigrant teachers, but we as a community of teachers need to realize that we too need to teach each other the technology that is in the world so we are all on the same page and reach those students who are starving for a new type of education. It states in the book that talented teachers are the most important single component of good schools, and the proper use of the technology our students are using to educate each other is the exact technology we need to use in the classroom to educate and create relevance.
I am proud to say that I am always changing up my curriculum to teach, poll, and present new information to my students on a daily basis. I am one of those teachers that feels very comfortable with the use of technology in the classroom to enrich my students experience, and will continue to educate myself and partnering teachers the use of these technologies in the classroom.
