Technology was a Pencil: A Must Read

     "There's just no time to fit in technology..." I truly understand why teachers say it.  I said it too.  The problem is fellow classroom leaders, is that technology is not, should not, and cannot be a separate entity.

     I left the classroom this year to get a grip on this fast moving, digital age, 21st Century jargon that kept surfacing. Also learn what to do in times of crisis- computer freezes, can't connect to the server, airport won't stay connected, the printer won't print, my interactive whiteboard won't connect etc.  To be completely honest, it has taken me a couple of months but I  FINALLY GET IT!  Thanks to a wonderful team of "techies", Friday collaborations, professional learning blogs, teachers and students at a couple of really cool schools, You Tube videos of Sir Ken Robinson, and even conversations with friends leery of giving technology "too" much time.

     Just like books, pencils, and rulers, technology is a learning tool.  Imagine this scenario: "Class, we haven't used a pencil in awhile.  So I've scheduled time with Mrs. Thiery next Tuesday, so we can practice using the pencil.  What would you like to do?  Good idea let's draw a tree.  We're not learning about trees- but that's ok, they're fun to draw. "  Seem ridiculus?  That's because it is!  The pencil is a tool used to record learning that should be used as just that.  It doesn't make much sense to schedule time to fool around with a pencil.   What would our taxpayers think?

      Technology was a pencil.  Once upon a time, a young student spent his shiny new nickel on a pencil instead of a piece of chalk.  So what is technology in the 21st century?  It is laptops, word processing to a global audience, infinite amounts of  information on the world wide web (www.), web 2.0 tools, i-pads, i-pods, cell phones, video games, and the list goes on and on.  Our job as 21st Century teachers is to FIND A WAY TO USE THESE TOOLS in the learning process and as assessments.  Sign up with your CTP to learn how to do just that.  We can help you put the technology tool in your lessons and assessments.   The pencil is a beautiful thing but our kids are communicating to a global audience without it.