Journal #7

"Are Schools Inhibiting 21st Century Learning" by Dave Nagel

The author of the article discussed how the potential for utilizing technology in education is being inhibited by schools or not implemented at all. Nagel states that the "idea of technology in education is to enhance learning, not limit it" but he believes that school IT departments are doing just this by limiting technology that will reach this goal. According to Project Tomorrow, teachers, parents and administrators do not even know that this is occurring in their schools. Security practices used to filter websites are one example of limitations on the use of technology in education. Since students are typically the first ones to adopt technology for personal and educational uses it is important that we engage our students with these technology methods to enhance their learning. Some of the uses that Nagel expresses a need to integrate education technologies such as social networking, educational gaming, online learning, and mobile technologies as was to "boost engagement". Students and teachers have both been receptive to the ideas but only about very few teachers that were surveyed were currently using these methods in their classrooms.

Reading this article I was actually very surprised to find that very few teachers were taking advantage of the current technology that is available to enhance their teaching and curriculum. I have to agree that students today would be more engaged in what they are learning at school if their teachers of administrators integrated the technologies that they are mostly familiar with in their education. For students today, technology is a part of their everyday lives and it only seems logical that they would be responsive to it in their educations. There are so many opportunities for educators to take advantage of but I really feel strongly that training of teachers in how to integrate technology is the first step. Many teachers are already overloaded with work and mandatory curriculum that possibly they may need someone in each school to help them learn about the opportunities that they can utilize in their classrooms.

1. In regards to mobile technologies, it seems like an excellent opportunity to "extend learning beyond the school day" but according to the survey, approximately 50-60% of student actually had these mobile devices mentioned so what happens to the other 50-40% of the student who do not have access to mobile technology if teachers do decide to use it?

2. Nagel states that web filtering, security practices are inhibiting learning for the full potential of 21st century learning but I am also concerned if these security practices are lifted then how can we as parents ensure that our children are gaining access to websites and information that is not appropriate for them or educational?