Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology: Chapter 10

RETHINKING EDUCATION IN A TECHNOLOGICAL WORLD


This chapter starts out by stating that the future prosperity in countries will depend on their education systems are set up.  Not just the future but NOW! If the United States wants to compete successfully than we need to make sure we are rethinking our education in the U.S.  The first section starts by explaining how in this world we grow up with the idea that learning means taking courses in school, but what if that changed?  What if the we went back to when individuals negotiated their own learning? Would learning be better and more successful? We will see :) The whole vision of this book is structured around "lifelong learning." Lifelong learning requires moving away from highly structured schooling institutions to instead act as consumers of a wide variety of learning experiences. So even though I felt throughout much of this book they were saying universal schooling will someday soon be gone, I feel that they more importantly want us as future educators to know the difference we can make by supporting and integrating technology tools into our future schools.  So what happens though if the U.S. cannot keep up and our thinking on learning does not ever change?  This chapter talks about how we already see this outside of the U.S. Many young people in Thailand and Brazil have access to these technologic resources and skills and they are indeed becoming "21st-century immigrants." 


The second section of this chapter focuses on rethinking motivation.  "The current school system does not help students develop intrinsic motivation to learn. As a future teacher I want to make it possible for each of my students to really explore the topics and areas that interest them.  This can help them to love learning, which should be every teacher's goal. I really liked this statement, "by understanding how new technologies can encourage kids to take responsibility for their own learning, society may help produce a generation of people who seek out ways to learn." If students are learning on their own they are most likely developing a much deeper appreciation and understanding for learning. 


The new technology resources that really impact what it is that is important to learn are communication and mathematics.  I found this interesting.  We really need to allow our students to take their own paths and encourage them to follow the career path that most thrills them, not us, or their parents. This is very important.  


Also this book is not just to educate young people on a new way of learning, but it is to educate everyone! With these types of tools and resources education can touch a much broader range of ages.  We need to stretch our traditional practices like the book suggests. I know after reading this book that I am very willing to transform the classroom so it is the best it can be for my students.  Their futures are very important to me and it is my job to make sure they fulfill their dreams! The book is done. And I have learned a lot. :)