We continue to talk about how the world of K-12 education is behind the rest of society when it comes to technology. After doing some of the readings for my digital media class this week, I realize how irresponsible that is. Technology is the way of the future. The children that are sitting in our classrooms today will be immersed in technology in their careers as well as their day to day lives. Obviously we do not know what form that is going to take in the future, but isn't it our responsibility as educators to start preparing them for their own futures?
After reading the article The Rise of Crowdsourcing from Wired Magazine 2006, which discusses the livelihood of professional photographers who sell stock photos, I realize that the children who sit in front of us today will need to be fluent in technology to survive in the working world of tomorrow. These photographers used to be able to sell their photos for large sums of money. Now the availabilty of online resources has made dramatic cuts into their pocketbooks. If children are not prepared to function in this ever changing world, how will they survive?
It seems that no matter the field, technological literacy will be essential. At my doctor's office, a small hand held computer now comes into the exam room to record all of my medical history. Paperless statements are the wave of the future. (I paid my bills online for the first time last night.) Look at the large number of companies who are networked through Facebook. Then look back and try to find the school districts included. Better yet, try to find the school districts who even allow access!
It is actually apalling that schools, the places that should be embracing technology and teaching kids the amazing capabilities that come with it as well as the cautions that should be exercised, are the very places that seem to be afraid to accept the world in which we are already living, let alone the one that lies ahead. Can we really be that irresponsible?
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4 comments:
Hi Wendy - i am leaving a video comment - i hope it works
http://app.sightspeed.com/vm/yznejaryq44gvrgmr3m8egshjs62zkwq/a6ww/en_US/1/
Sorry, Louis, this video comment doesn't work. All the others did. What a cool technology that is!
Wendy. You are so correct here. Schools are way behind! I alsmost feel like I have to fight to do some of the things that are a part of the technology standards. The computer lab we use to produce our yearbook has 9 year old computers in it. At this point they may as well be dinosaurs. I am not sure when or how, but schools need to catch up and I think we as teachers are going to have to be the push.
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