Saturday, September 6, 2008

"Learning to Change and Changing to Learn": Video Response

In a society that has become centered around technology, this video clip offered highly insightful observations on the impact of the technological phenomenon that is sweeping the nation within the realms of education and student achievement. Technology is developing at an alarmingly rapid pace. In essence, it has become such an essential part of our culture that it shapes almost all aspects of our lives. The most prevalent forms of technology being used are computers and the internet. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it, it is crucial that our children become engulfed in the computer age. Most likely, at some point in their adult work endeavors they are going to be required to be computer literate. Since we are living in a technologically literate world, we as teachers must adequately equip our students with the skills and resources they will need to be successful in their attempts at further education and emersion into the social networking workforce that will be waiting for them. One of the speakers in the video said it best when he stated that simply mastering the basic knowledge skills is not enough. It is critical that students not only master the standards but also be able to use the foundational base that knowledge provides to synthesize, apply, collaborate, and network with various people and media. Thus, we as teachers need to gear our instruction to meet the needs of learners. As culture changes, education must also subsequently adapt to these changes. This means providing more professional development for teachers who are not computer literate, offering programs and collaborative work, and devising social networking systems that enable school districts to compare different programs of instruction that are taking place outside their own district. Overall, I believe the title of this selection is quite appropriate. Educational institutions have to periodically change instructional methods as technology continues to grow. This change will ultimately lead to new learning by all involved.

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