Technnology Integration and Exploration Creates Life Long Learners

This response pertains to "Shifting Ground" by: Chris Lehmann-

Technology has become intertwined in most students lives (cell phones, facebook, etc), but is not truly utilized in the classroom. Smart boards are a popular tool many teachers rely on to demonstrate and interact with their class. However, this bit of technology is useful in "engaging" students, but does it inspire inquisitive attitudes and give students the tools they can utilize for future learning?

Lets pretend that we are students sitting in a fourth grade classroom. Our teacher is standing at her smart board, using a pen to correct a document projected up on the screen. We are interested because we have never seen someone use this before! The pens can write on this board and be erased without ever making a "real" mark! We are interested in every feature. Now you and i are starting our Freshman year of high school. Smart boards are old news, and our boring algebra teacher has just corrected the eighteenth problem of our test on it. We are texting each other back and forth under our desks about the dance on Friday.

This "teacher centered" style that a smart board has, is not delving into the vast resources technology brings. If we only teach students how to manage the tools we have today, then we are selling them short. Type writers were once cutting edge, but today are dead. As an education community we need to focus on "Empowering" our students, not just engaging them.

I believe"empowering" students is to give them curiosity and confidence to explore new technology and not shy away from the unknown. As teachers we have the ability to use any tools within our limits to do such things. Children and teens are already spending much of their free time texting, on Facebook, gaming on the computer, etc. If we play on this natural inclination and ability, children can explore the wealth of knowledge that is available. Inspiring an inquisitive attitude and willingness to learn is what leads to knowledge, and teachers with technology can empower children to do that.

By teaching students to use the internet and everything it has to offer, they can explore and become part of a global community. If they explore, make up problems, and find a solution, then they can become "empowered". If i only "engage" them, and do not allow students to come up with solutions, they wont take hold of what is at their disposal and be life long, enriched learners.