Krista's Tech Tidbits

Education without Ed Tech? NO!

May 12, 2010

Educational technology is revolutionizing the way teachers teach!  It increases student engagement and collaboration and puts learning in the hands of kids!  Students can interact with lessons on interactive whiteboards, create digital stories in any grade over any topic, collaborate with students from all over the world, and so much more!  Without ed tech funding, schools will be forced to reduce their infusion of technology in schools and take a step backwards from preparing students with 21st century skills!

If it is our goal as a nation to prepare students that are capable of working and adapting in today’s society, we must put technology in their hands.  There is no computer training and minimal software training when you enter the workforce.  You are expected to take your job and run with it!  Students need to know how to properly and effectively utilize technology to be successful.  Most students develop these skills in their K-12 public schools.

There are many coined terms floating around today, such as digital natives, digital citizenship, digital divide.  As you may notice, they all start with digital!  This indicates a need for producing students that are capable of navigating a digital world.  When you throw in the term digital divide, you must consider the economic divide we will continue to create if public school students are not given access to the learning and technology they need! 

I live in rural West Texas.  There are many areas stricken with poverty.  The kids living in those areas are only able to utilize and learn technology skills at their schools.  I had the opportunity to visit Floydada ISD last week.  They are a leader in 1-to-1 initiatives and an Apple Distinguished School.  They are not a rich district filled with affluent families.  However, they have created an equal learning opportunity for all students by providing them with the tools needed and 24/7 access to learning opportunities.  Through this initiative, Floydada has seen a dramatic increase in testing scores and overall student success.

Without ed tech funding, schools will be forced to funnel their funds into needed areas, such as salaries, building upkeep, supplies and much more.  They will lose their ability to push forward and innovate.  We as a nation will continue to drop in overall levels of education due to the digital divide and an increase in the gap between haves and have nots will be visible.  Teachers will be forced to return to the way they were taught rather than revolutionizing education and making our students of all backgrounds top competitors for jobs. 

Without ed tech funding, some students will only see computers in stores or offices.  Students will not learn the importance of basic and advanced computer skills.  They will be forced to write vocabulary from the back of a chapter in a textbook and answer the questions from the book.  They will lose the ability to access up-to-date information at all times.  Students will not have a creative channel for their assignments and be allowed to create videos, podcasts, digital stories, wikis, websites, and more.  Students will be bored, have to power down when they get to school, slow down to keep up, and lose their excitement and engagement in learning.

Education technology should be infused in all areas of education.  It increases our effectiveness and efficiency.  It enhances student learning.  It levels the learning field for all students.  Ed tech increases engagement, learning, interest, excitement, collaboration, participation, literacy, and SO much more!

Can you imagine education without ed tech?  I can’t!

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