Why technology? Simply because technology is no longer the wave of the future. The future is now, and technology is a tremendous part of our world. And as the world changes so education and educators must change so that we fulfill our responsibility of preparing our students.
As with all living things, our world continues to grow and change. Education and educators must also continue to grow and change if they are to keep pace with the world around them. As educators, our job is to lead those who have been entrusted in our care to become successful participants in their world. As education changes in the late 1990's, it is turning its focus away from the teacher centered classroom to the student centered classroom, and away from the notion held in the past that we had to learn and do things in a certain way. In years past, it seems that high school teacher spent most of their time telling students that they had to be prepared for college. While that is still somewhat true, educators are now seeing that college is changing and that we must prepare our students to be life long learners.
Technology is the tool that we can use to help use achieve our educational goals. Through the use of technology, we can help students embrace the learning process and make the most of it. We can also train them to be successful participants in a technological world no matter what their career choices may be.
Through the technological resources that are now becoming available students can take a much more active role in their learning, both in the classroom and outside of it. The new technologically updated classroom can support many learning styles, and can encourage students to question, to research, and critically evaluate a myriad of resources and topics. . The entire world is now open to them from where they sit in the classroom. The classroom is no longer away from the world, but now it can be an integral life giving part of the world. Students now have access to resources around the world, not just the school library. By using virtual learning, students can communicate with astronauts and scientists, artists, and writers, and more. Students can participate in studies around the globe and be an integral part of an expedition.
Why technology? Besides the fact that it is pedagogically sound, it is also exciting for the teacher and the students. And motivation is a must if learning is to take place. So, through technology, we have a win for both sides. We have sound educational principles being used to foster the educational process and excite the participants. Can it get any better than that?