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