"Simply put, we can’t keep preparing students for a world that doesn’t exist".Virginia Hefferman
I found the Article Education Needs a Digital Upgrade by Virginia Heffernan to be very interesting. The idea that students are exposed to technology and must be educated using new technology, is an idea that would be great, if every student had the ability to afford the latest and greatest toys.
However, I believe that a student should be taught first how to perform the basic task, and then add the machines that they are so much more talented.
It seems to me that if a student learns to write first, using paper and pencil they would be prepared for the event when technology fails. Teaching our kids to use technology without the benefit of learning the basics, would make them reliant instead of independent.
I believe that this author wrote this article about children who are from an economic status that can purchase expensive items. When in reality there are many families struggling to put food on the table. It is only possible to equally educate children if everyone is on the same page. For an equal public education, we the tax payers would have to supply each student with the technology at school and also at home. And, how about the homes that do not have electricity, do we then pay the utility bill of the students homes?
It is true that children learn and adapt to technology fast; and I believe our children have a right to have the highest quality education that we the tax payers can afford. Technology is a wonderful tool, it can open doors and ideas, but we must be careful as educators to make sure all children have the same opportunities to excel.
Heffernan, V. (2011). Education needs a digital age upgrade. New York, New York: New York Times. Retrieved from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/education-needs-a-digital-age-upgrade/?hp
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