Technology

What is it? How is it used? When is it used? Why should it be used? Who should use it? Where do you find it? These questions can be asked about the emerging technologies and the ones people are currently using. What, when, why, who, how, and where? We asks these questions now just like people asked these questions when things were invented in the past.
Education asks these questions everyday. They are asked in the schools and admin buildings. What do we need to help our students achieve? How do we come to a happy medium between what network systems considers appropriate and what the educators want to use? Why do we need this tool over this one? Who should purchase then train everyone how to use? Where do we store it/lock it up? These technologies are available but until these questions are asked and answered the schools continue to be slow to implement.
Our students are digital natives. At home the same questions are asked then answered. What do we need to help our child achieve? (computer, online access, video gaming system with internet access, portable devices, cellphones)? How do we come to a happy medium between how to educate our digital natives (allow cellphones during instruction, allow students to have electronic devices at school)? Why do we need this tool (because my parents wanted, I got it for a present, it’s fun)? Who should purchase then train (my parents/grandparents, aunt/uncle; I don’t need training. I can figure it out myself)? Where do we keep it (in my child’s room, family room, it’s portable, not a school)?
As long as we continue to have questions without the answers, our students will be further ahead with the technology at home then at school. Let’s answer the questions and open the networks so we can teach our students the what, when, how, why, who, and where technology can best impact their learning since they already have the answers.