We've Got The Technology - What Now?
Step back and think this through...
If technology is becoming obsolete and unused before it is ever taught how to be used most effectively, what else has also fallen off the wagon?
Malik (2018) states that in order "to cope with these run-away changes we need to prepare workforce with the skills to handle a range of electronic technologies that characterize this digital era" (p. 9). The urgency for education to equip citizens with an approach where they are able to think critically and creatively now faces our students.
Will there be set-backs or conflicts that ultimately prevent this growth?
This is where planning from the LEAs is able to be more constructive. Each school and its system could have socio-economic or other political settings that prevent technology from being woven into the daily lessons; however, looking further at the school's Continuous Improvement Plan or Technology Plan could help highlight how to best implement small changes with great impact over time (Frazier & Hearrington, 2017, p. 4).
Even though technology seems to change or even become obsolete quickly, the fact is that education has made slight changes to its curriculum to incorporate such updates. Malik (2018) stated that "society is changing at an alarmingly accelerating pace, but schools remain stuck with structures that took place in the 19th Century" (p. 2). Schools teach many course-appropriate concepts; however, they also teach already obsolete skills that are technologically sound. Perhaps, by aligning technology more consistently throughout, the curriculum will enable options for students to choose varying levels of digital education even earlier in their learning experiences - like learning a new speaking language - the earlier you begin learning, the easier it is!
As educators, we should constantly remind one another that our goal should be to focus students on being able to engage in our content and experiences in order to better prepare them for being able to compete regionally, and even globally. When I consider what digital resources the students have to engage with the content at the high school level, I only readily recalled a few - most being Math related, like Kahoot! and Socratic.
So, while adding information to this blog, I searched the Apple App Store for its free top 10 educational apps. The information I found is listed numerically below:
These apps are functional for what they offer; however, are they going to keep teenagers engaged in learning? The math apps shown are those that assist with finding answers. If the student wants to learn how to do it, they have to pay for the app. That can cost anywhere from $4.99 to $24.99 with these listed above. Add in the possibility that the infrastructure does not allow any/all of these apps being used on school grounds, and there is a disconnect between what is useful to students versus what we might recommend them use. Personally, I would like to see textbooks offer an app where they work out the problems for the students, or give them various options to attain more information regarding topics and methods.
Technology is ever-changing. Educators must acknowledge that we must do our due diligence to explore all possibilities incorporating strategies and methods that not only reach our students, but are effective in content and resources building our students’ to compete globally.
