This chapter was called the Technology Edge and it talked a lot about how schools should be integrating technology into the curriculum. Kids start using computers and gaming systems at a very young age so I think they would be more comfortable and better engaged in the learning process if they could use technology on a day-to-day basis. It would be very natural and "fun" for them to have an electronic device at their fingertips. Some sort of security would need to be in place so that students do not access inappropriate information, even accidentally.
The author also talked about offering internet or videoconferenced classes to students. This could be helpful for students that live in small cities or school districts that do not have enough funding to hire what they consider to be highly qualified teachers, say for spanish immersion. Possibly the school districts could then share in the cost of the teacher for this type of class. Students would also have 24/7 access to ask the teacher questions through email and get a faster response than waiting until the next class period. The time spent asking the teacher a question before or after class also uses up instructional time. One issue I see with using technology as a means of communication is that any communication that isn't face-to-face can be construed incorrectly.
I especially enjoyed the philosophy of hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, when he was referring to school's looking ahead to the future and using technology as a learning tool. He said "Most players skate to where the puck is. I skate to where the puck is going to be." That statement is so true in that school districts need to look to the future to see what job skills are going to be needed, or what kind of technology will be used. Other countries are well ahead of the US when it comes to looking to the future.
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