After finishing the book Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, my perception of the importance of technology has changed drastically. In these short few weeks, I have gone from half-heartedly appreciating the benefits to wondering, thinking, and pondering what the future forms education will be. The benefits of technology are obvious and encourage in myself a hope for better and more effective teaching/learning strategies. Will Richardson does an excellent job of exposing readers to the positive nature of technology and its incorporation into the classroom. Furthermore, in the closing chapter and epilogue, he succinctly expresses why technology is in education is essential to students’ futures.
I feel one of the most important points to take away from the closing chapter is related to the flood of information available on the Internet. With the vast quantity of information available, students must develop the skills necessary to filter, organize, interpret, and synthesize content. As the Internet access expands and technologies are developed, these skills will become more and more important. As an educator, the subject content I will be teaching is obviously important but I must keep in mind the larger life skills and lessons which are possible and often necessary for preparing students for their roles in future society. The education I provide must incorporate a multitude of skills and content creatively linked and related to the subjects I will teach. To me, this idea is expressed when Richardson writes, “By inviting students to become active participants in the design of their own learning, we teach them how to be active participants in their lives and future careers.”
Here is where the real learning….
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