Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to an incredibly thought provoking presentation by Will Richardson. Will is an educator who is pushing educators to reflect on how we use technology in our schools to make learning more relevant and more successful.
The presentation discussed how our world has changed because of the internet, education is changing as a result, and this period of change is filled with challenge and opportunity. The prevelance of the internet is making education more accessible and the barriers to learning are falling. Schools were created to deliver an education and with information being available everywhere on the web, Will argues that schools must continue to adapt to this changing reality. The rapidity of change leads Alvin Toffler to say that, "the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those that cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
Throughout the presentation Will kept asking us to reflect on how we can use technology 'effectively'. He challenged us to question what that means. The whole presentation caused me to reflect on our school's ongoing move to technology as a tool for teaching and for learning.
Finding the balance where technology engages students and enhances learning is the place where teaching moves to a different level.
