Technology: the pencil and paper of our time

"Technology should be invisible. It is the pencil and paper of our time. But until every learner and teacher-learner has sufficient and equitable access to appropriate information and communication technologies, we should enthusiastically continue to make the “T” word an explicit and high-volume part of all of our planning."

I found a blog that I find interesting and so I picked out the parts I found useful, as so you may as well too. It is about Obama's blue print to rewrite the No Child Left Behind act. The issue discussed here is revolved around technology in the classroom. I feel it is very important that technology is used in the classroom. I do not feel that a lap top for each student is necessary but a computer lab needs to be of access and it is vital for a student to learn at school how to use a computer for every day life successes outside of school. I also like the idea of technology not just being added to already made lesson plans but to use technology to go further with teaching in new and creative ways that help our students learn.

In the following he says three objections but only puts two...must have been a typo!
Here is the full blog.......http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=2446

There are three objections that I have to where the blue print is taking us.

1. The One size fits all approach the our promotion of the STEM subjects seems to ignore completely that even though we do need more youngsters pursuing a science, technology, or mathematics field, not everyone needs to, and we will continue to need smart and creative people pursuing the “other subjects.” When people are complaining about TV, they are not usually complaining about the picture size or quality. What they want is better stories. Engineering is easy. Telling a better and more compelling story is hard.
2. In the first paragraph, Ellen Meier describes technology as “a catalyst for all educational reform efforts for the 21st century.” On my first reading, I thought that this statement was a bit over-reaching. But now that I think about it, she is right. Globalization, economic transition, brand new industries and industries in decline… all of these bellwethers of change owe themselves to advances in information and communication technologies. In addition, because of technology, information has changed in:
   • What it looks like,
   • What we look at to view it,
   • Where we go to find it,
   • How we find it,
   • What we can do with it, and
   • How we communicate it

Because information is now networked, digital, and abundant, what it means to be literate has changed and so too has the meaning and method of lifelong learning.

Picture: http://stmaryses.org/fifthwish.html
Blog: http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/?p=2446