The Future Starts Now

Some say the future of American education starts now... but what is changing? The video The Future Starts Now explains that we need to take advantage of the resources we have available, specifically, technology.

Many have spoken up about their hesitations to implementing too much technology - takes away from pencil and paper work, not many teachers know how to use it, students abuse the tool. However, this video shows the importance of it: students value and are motivated by it.

The district I work at just finished their first three days of school. Any educator that went through schooling to become a teacher knows, these days are vital to finding out interests of each student. If I find out my students love Angry Birds, I create Angry Bird problems for math. If I discover that my students will sit down when any song comes on, I research transition songs until I can sing all day long. Then why, when we find out that students are motivated by technology, do some refuse to implement it? Whatever the reason, stop!

The video stresses the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The understanding that implementing ICT helps students learn better, when used smartly. The problem is, local  authorities do not provide schools with enough money to receive the full effect. 

However, in Norway they have a different focus. Norwegians spend more money on schooling than most countries and they are scoring above any other country. They are pushing to create a knowledge based society while they can before their oil supply runs out in 2030. This way there will be a solid education platform for the country to continue living.

How does this relate to education in America? Simple. We're not investing in the areas we need to to reach our students. What if we spent money using gadgets smartly to meet their interests through computers, iPads, Chromebooks, and more? Students would be motivated to learn about formulas as they are brought to life through visualizations, simulations, and animations, therefore causing them to want to come to school!

ICT is something we need to pay more attention to as a nation to reach our students. Motivate them to come to school because they can rely on using powerful platforms!

If you take a second to step back and reflect on how far technology comes, I think you will be amazed. As the video 21st Century Education in New Brunswick, Canada pointed out, when was the last time you:

1. Used a payphone
2. Sent in a film role to get pictures developed
3. Used white out

The same goes for education. 

We are changing constantly. The technology sources that are available to us have lead to predictions stating that in 10 years, blackboards, CD's, desks, grades, lockers, and textbooks may be obsolete. Students will carry around tablets that hold their heavy textbooks, which I once lugged around from home to school every night. Students will have access to working with others in different countries. Students will work together as they apply their mathematical and mechanical understandings to build robots and racing cars. Students will have access to learned material every minute of every hour of every day. 

Imagine an English class being held in a TV news room. The capabilities of technology is making education student centered and personal. It gives them the ability to build the skill sets they need to stay up to date in the real world. When they go to their job after graduating, they will know how to do incredible things. As the video mentioned, education is about adapting to a changing world.