Rethink: Chapter 4

Is it bad that this reading didn't really make me think that much about technology and how it affects teaching and learning? To me, this reading just made me realize that the education I have the access to now isn't anywhere near to how it started off as. I think too often as students we complain about the "tragedy" that is school, but ultimately, it's a luxury we take advantage of. I guess now that more I think about it, apprenticeships ended because of the need for a different kind of educational institution. As stated in the text, this only happened because the surge of immigrants needed to get a proper education in order to participate actively and objectively in the government. If you think about it, teaching the immigrants English was a form of technology. Today's youth is going to need a lot more than knowing how to speak English to be valued members of society. The more I keep reading this book, the more aware I become that some changes need to take place within our educational institutions for the betterment of our youth. In th reading, it said that schools are incredibly slow to change, that it took roughly 100 years or so to get the system the way it is now. For better or worse, I think we need to not completely rush the technological changes we are striving for. Instead, we need to take gradual steps towards the ideal academic institution. We've learned in our BWP book about all the wonderful tools that are available to us, many of which are free. Prior to this class, I really didn't know that much about them. For student learning, if we want to be able to move forward, I think we need to start educating the older generation first.

As a result of this reading I can think of a few ways to react... Get my future students parents involved. Sending notes home frequently so the parents know exactly what is happening. The best way for our schools to change in the technological path we want them to is be keeping everyone involved educated. Another idea for me to consider is that unfortunately, change doesn't happen overnight. Many of the technologies I take advantage of today weren't even around 20 years ago. In order to one day have the school system change to the most accommodating institution for the future that lies ahead, we need to appreciate the small accomplishments that are made, instead of zeroing in on the end result.