So the AQ course on technology in education is coming to and end....but not my use of technology in education....both the education of my students and my own education. Today I will be attached to my laptop once again...it has become another appendage....as I work with my teaching partner on MxWeb writing final reports for the year. It is amazing that, although we spend so much time creating electronic files, my dining room topography is mountains of paper piles.
This course has taught me a great deal...including being able to recognize how much I already know, and of course, how much more there is to learn. New programs, websites, apps etc. appear everyday. It would be impossible to keep up with everything, and not everything is useful to me. Being selective, sharing personal experiences and learning from others is essential to the effective use of technology in education..and in general. A person could easily spend thousands of dollars on equipment and programs unnecessarily....only to find they have a lot of useless stuff. Listening to peers and checking out free trials is a great start.
Computers and technology in education are essential, but that is not all there is to 21st Century Learning. It is choosing the best tool for the job and knowing how to use it effectively. Sometimes a pencil and piece of paper are still the best tools. As educators we need to assist our students in the choosing of tools and how to best utilize them. Having the fastest computer or newest tablet is irrelevant if you don't know how to effectively operate them. And with the rapid pace that things change in technology, the valuable learning is in the ability to adapt, explore, apply and not fear....difficult skills to teach...but essential for success.
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