Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

Technology is EVERYWHERE - Get on the Technology Train or Get Left Behind!

Everywhere you look, technology is staring you in the face! Children today are being exposed to technology as soon as they are born and some schools are still operating in the Stone Age. Take a look around while walking in the mall, while driving in the car, or walking down the street. Everywhere you look, you will find at least one kid using a piece of technology that you probably have never heard of. Many kids already own a cellphone or iPod (I didn't get a cellphone until age 16 and an iPod even later).  When my ActivBoard was installed into my classroom during my 2nd year of teaching, the thought never crossed my mind to let my kids work independently on that expensive piece of technology. WHAT IF THEY BREAK IT? Although many things could have happened, I just had to suck it up and "just do it". Four years later, my ActivBoard is the most used piece of technology in my room, and NOT BY the teacher - by the students. They can turn it on, open their sites, change the view, do what they need to complete their lessons, and turn it off at the end of the day. 

Teachers need to believe in their students and "just do it". Technology is not going to bite you. Technology is knowledge waiting for you to take it by the reins and run with it.