Technology is no longer an intimidating novelty. Its use in any industry is both accepted and expected. And here we are preparing our students for the world outside the classroom and yet have not equipped them with the right tools for them to survive, to acquire jobs in the real world. I am convinced now more than ever; educators need to get on board and see to it that students become technologically skilled. Technology is a tool that can change the nature of teaching and learning.
What came across clearly during the delivery of this course was the fact that in a technology-rich classroom, students don't "learn" technology. Technology merely provides the tools to be used for authentic learning. It is a means, not an end and as such provides educators with the opportunity to move from simply streamlining the way things have always been done to really imagining things they would like to do. Technology therefore provides the vehicle to accomplish educational goals. What a wonderful opportunity!
The visioning for a technology-rich classroom then, is students who are active, rather than passive -- producing knowledge and presenting that knowledge in a variety of formats. Teachers and students would move from pursuing individual efforts to being part of teaching and learning teams, which may include a global community. The classroom then becomes more student friendly with the teacher acting as a guide on the side rather than a sage on the stage. Of course, active learning can create busy, noisy, and messy classrooms. It's important to recognise therefore that this kind of learning takes practice-for both the teacher and the students. Now, right now educators must be instructed on how to best use technological to enhance teaching and learning.
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