How Technology Would Be Great For Spirit Lake Community School District
By Angela Olsen, Grade 8 Mathematics
It is the year 2010. People today are different. Workers are performing much different jobs, using different machines, and our society is different than it was 100 years ago, 25 years ago, 10 years ago, or even 2 years ago.
In order to prepare our students for these new and different jobs, and for this new society, it is imperative that our students have access to technology. This technology will be at the heart of what the majority of them, if not all of them, will use when they leave our school district. This technology might be a cell phone. Many people do not even have a regular phone any more. The technology could be a laptop at college, as many colleges provide a laptop or some type of computer for usage at their institution. It might be an i-pod to study or work out with, or a debit card for their purchases since many stores no longer accept written checks. Lastly, this technology could be a computer in the work force, running many different types of software.
Whatever the technology is, our students NEED exposure, accessibility and experience with technology. This is how students become prepared. This technology would change how we teach students and how our students’ learn. Our classrooms would become student centered – the lessons would be differentiated to meet the needs and levels of EACH student. Students would become producers of knowledge, content, and have hands on experience. The current reality is our students are consumers of knowledge instead of the producers we want them to be.
Students would have the ability to access large amounts of material quickly. Students could utilize their peers and teachers better as resources. This access could happen quickly, using I-chat, Skype, and email. Students would be involved in global education and would have access to students, staff, and on-line resources at any moment. Students using this technology could use, experience, and learn the thinking skills needed to be successful in today’s new society. The world and job market are full of technology. Our district having greater access to that for ALL students would be a definite advantage for the students when they leave our school district.
