CHANGE Anyone??

No, I don't mean money! They say some things never change...this definitely is not the case with technology! Change is really the essence of education as we know it today! Over these past few days, I have spent A LOT of time exploring the various resources posted on Moodle. Every website I visited, every video I watched, and every article I read seemed to reinforce that technology is growing stronger day by day. After viewing the "Learning to Change..." video, I realized that technology is not a choice anymore. As the video states, a young child growing up in today's society is certainly living in the "now." He/she is in the world of texting, Facebook, and internet research. Instead of learning in a traditional classroom setting, much of what students learn in school is based around technology. This is a huge change for many educators.
I agree with the point the video raises of standardized testing not helping students to succeed in the future because many of these tests are just based on simple fact and recall. Where is the real world application of skills? How is a standardized test going to give students the skills needed to find, process, and synthesize information? Yes, testing is needed to assess whether or not a student has grasped an important concept, but the answer is simple. Students of today's world cannot become prepared for what is really out there unless they are constantly exposed to everything technology has to offer.
I also found the "Chapter One Power Point to be very interesting. Technology is definitely present in every aspect of daily living, and as the chapter explains, computers support communication beyond classroom walls. Our students of today really are "Digital." When I think of technology, communication is one of the first things I think of. Take this class for example. We, too, are "Digital" students using technology to communicate our ideas with one another in order to make meaning. As the "Differentiation Video" explains, the learning environment has changed from what it has been in the past. It is now a sharing of information...and one of the best ways to do that is through technology! Many students do know more about technology then their teachers. Sometimes I even find myself calling for a student when I can't figure out how to do something on the SmartBoard or on the computer!! And to tell you the truth, they usually solve the problem! They are constantly exposed to technology, so their minds are almost trained to think in that mode.
As educators, we must be willing to take "the leap" into the world of technology...even if it is out of our comfort zone. I belive it is time to make a change, and I am so excited to hear what my peers in this class are doing with technology in the classroom. Change isn't necessarily a bad thing-especially in this case! So, are you ready?