Last week I was reading an article in a foreign language journal on emerging technologies...I'm a nerd, I know. I had to laugh when I read that in Chicago a financial firm was assessing the eye-hand coordination of its traders using GameBoys and other gaming tools. Is this how current employers are interviewing applicants? While I am busy pushing the importance of global citizenship, stressing that employers are interested in biligual applicants, am I failing to stress the importance of things like gaming and social networking in the working world?
This weekend I will be traveling to MN with a few fellow teacher friends to check out some 1:1 implementation. Although I am off this year, it would be a lie to say that I have completely left school at school. I am nervous that education is in a renaissance of sorts. Many schools have completely changed their ways of educating students and are paving the way for the rest of us to do the same. Over 50 schools in Iowa currently have a 1:1 initiative in place (where each student is provided a laptop, ipad, tablet, etc) and I am sad to think that my school is not one of them. It makes me nervous to be away in a time where keeping up with the technological shift is imperative as, lets face it, I'm a dinosaur in comparison to my young tech-saavy students and co-workers.
I am eager to learn how this initiative might benefit the school where I teach. I am not, however, looking forward to the huge learning curve that awaits me as I try to understand and implement new technology. There are an infinite amount of possibilities at my fingertips on how to best assist my students using technology, but only a finite amount of time to learn and apply it to my curriculum before the students are lightyears ahead of me.
Teacher friends/parents of students...what are your thoughts on each student having their own laptop/ipad? Is it a big distraction trying to keep them focused and on task...or an introduction to the world that awaits them? Will my classroom be flooded with Facebook status updates and Tweets, or will educational apps keep my students engaged and excited about their education? Change is coming...I'm not sure I can keep each foot on opposing sides of the technological divide for much longer.
1 comment:
#1. You're not behind. Our school, on the other hand, definitely is. You are a fast learner. You enjoy technology. And...you use a lot of google.doc stuff, which is ahead of many of our staff members. 'Google isn't just e-mail? What?!" ;)
#2. You should get a twitter. I read an article that people with twitter are smarter, and I believe it. It's a wealth of information at my fingertips. I'll look forward to you "following" me (and xpressnewspaper). :)
#3. MN weekend will catch you up. You'll be ahead in no time at all...even after a year away. No worries!
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