I've found this article very interesting! It's an American look on the modern technologies in education.
Dear Next President,
We believe that it is critical that our next President make ensuring our nation’s K-12 students receive a 21st Century Education a top priority.
Recent data shows that the stakes for our students acquiring 21st Century technology skills and knowledge have never been higher in terms of their own and our nation’s economic prosperity. For instance:
- The Department of Labor reports that out of 55 industries, education is last in its use of technology.
- In the majority of schools, teachers and students cannot maximize the potential of technology.
- By 2010, if current trends continue, more than 90 percent of all scientists and engineers will be living in Asia.
- Since the 1960s, the demand for skills has changed significantly – the demand for routine manual task skills have decreased, while the demand for non-routine interactive task skills have increased significantly.
Our children not only deserve but require an American education that harnesses the power of technology to individualize learning, one that ensures that they are prepared to compete academically for top grades and globally for the best paying jobs. In our estimation, a 21st Century Education should include the following elements:
- Every student learning in an environment that reflects the technology replete world in which we live, including ready access to sophisticated computing devices, instructionally sound digital content that facilitates self-paced learning, and broadband-level bandwidth necessary to support cutting-edge digital applications and services.
- Every teacher possessing the technology tools and skills necessary to use technology in the classroom and to integrate technology and digital resources seamlessly into classroom learning.
- Every parent utilizing technology to monitor student academic progress, communicate with educators regarding academic matters, and access online and digital resources to assist their children’s studies.
We call on the next President, in partnership with Congress, to take these bold steps to ensure a 21st Century Education, including:
- Supporting access for all students to technology and the Internet.
- Increasing federal funding for education technology through the Department of Education’s budget.
- Preserving the E-Rate and providing robust bandwith in all classrooms to allow students and educators to use the cutting-edge digital applications and services.
- Incorporating technology literacy and facility into state teacher standards, teacher training, and professional development.
- Encouraging student technology literacy by the eighth grade.
Thanks to technology, we now have a majority of students that are unable to do simple math (addition & subtraction,forget multiplication and division) without a calculator. God forbid everytime batteries go dead or the power goes off. They are unable to spell or form coherent sentence structure thanks to Word programs and NOW they are losing the ability to communicate socially thanks to text messaging. In a few more years we will have dumbed them down to a sufficient level that they will truly be a lost generation. This technology is a fine thing if used properly, but the students need accountability first. They need to be able to function without these tools. The tools of technology should be enhancements, not enabling devices. Sorry, as glorious as technology is, it can also lead to our downfall as a society. The people pushing for this are not in touch with the pitfalls or the ramifications of these actions. Bring back the three R's of education and then apply technology to those skills. America will then rise to its' potential as never before.
