One part of chapter one that really stuck out to me was on page 5 "Our students' realities in terms of the way they communicate and learn are very different from our own." While I think of myself as "hip" I have an eleven year old daughter that thinks I am the most uncool person she's ever met. Most of it has to do with how tech savvy she is and I am not. Cell phones didn't exist when I was her age and she can't seem to live without hers.
She has been exposed to computers for many years and I didn't get my first go at one until I was in the eighth grade because that was the year that we were considered old enough to use one. Students have much more exposure to technology than I did as a student. I hope to close the gap between my knowledge and theirs.
I have found myself thinking of how I will incorporate technology into my lessons, and I was taken back when it talked about not just jumping into technology but learning about it and using it myself before I introduce my students to it. I also agreed with the fact that if the use of technology isn't enhancing a students learning than it may not be a good idea to use it just for the sake of saying you used it. I have taught lessons that have had activities with them and after teaching those lessons I have often asked myself did the activity further their learning. Sometimes it did, but sometimes it didn't. Anything that we do with students should enhance their learning and not just keep them busy.
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Hip or not, technology is here to stay, and we need to equip our students with the tools to be able to use it most efficiently. Easier said than done, but, as your children would likely be able to tell you, it gets easier the more you use technology.
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