Blog Post #1

There are many reasons fueling the use of technology for teachers in the classroom, and its uses can only expand as technology improves and makes lives easier. Uses such as providing assistance with organization skills and curriculum planning have been implemented in many areas. Teachers also use new technologies for communication purposes with students and other faculty members, email, internet and cellphones are everyday things that most people have access to, and are being utilized by teachers and students alike for ease of living. A teacher can use technology to adapt to students unique learning styles as well, providing for a more wholesome and complete learning experience for students. A student may also use technology so that they can adapt material and subjects to their preferred learning style, whether it be visual or audio. Using technology to your advantage is its purpose, to make lives easier and more incorporated with daily activities and challenges faced by teachers and students alike.

ISTE standards are, in my opinion, not only appropriate but necessary for students to meet. Technology only gets more complicated, and I admire ISTE for providing a standard in learning and application of those technologies. With knowledge and understanding comes new opportunities for growth and learning, along with new horizons for creative outlets that students can take advantage of. It also provides for career development as technological implications have created a vast network of professionals who are both seeking work and providing opportunities for it. My gripe with ISTE is my personal grudge against standardized tests and how they assume people from all over the nation have equal access to these technologies, which is not the case. Some may find themselves being metaphorically held back because of unequal access to what is necessary but equal grading across the nation. Individual areas require assessment, but I do understand the plight of a standard across the board that ensures technological prowess.

While i am not a fan of labeling subgroups of people, i can agree to the "native youth" term. I say this because There is a whole new generation of people who have grown up knowing nothing without technology. Since they had these critical formative years surrounded by technology they have managed to adapt and incorporate it into their lifestyle, while older generations find the use of social networking and other things as trivial. The stark differences between how quickly a youth can learn a new technology when compared to someone much older is clear, and can be seen in many places. Students can pick up on new techs faster than their teachers, and a game of catch up has to be played on the digital immigrants part. As far as this effects learning, i am not sure. Digital immigrants have to teach the natives while learning new things as well, perhaps the direction this is all heading will weigh on the beneficial side but I cannot say for sure. As these digital natives grow up, they will still have the mental flexibility that was formed during their youth and can retain the speed of learning new technologies, but as the next generation of kids come along we may and will face new learning obstacles that we are not familiar with, and adaptation will be necessary once again.