Teaching has changed almost as much as technology has changed over the years. The fact is, the old methods of teaching frequently will no longer work for several reasons. First of all, we have a new cliental. Students these days are coming from the television/ipad generation, where everything is presented to them in an interesting often interactive manner. The gap between the “haves” and “have-nots” is growing so we’re teaching a larger range of abilities. Finally, what we’re preparing them for is ever-changing. The amount of blue-collar jobs is diminishing, and being replaced by computers and other technologies that people are expected to understand in the job market. This means our teaching needs to change with all of this.
Teachers, more than ever, need to continue their own quest to be lifelong learners. They need to learn new instructional strategies that will better fit the students they are now teaching. Teachers need a large arsenal of strategies as they need to be able to match a strategy with different situations and different content in an effort to best pass on the information to the students. Some strategies may be the same ones frequently used in the past, while others are still being developed as newer technology comes out.
Is there really a purpose for an overhead projector now when there is the availability of such things as document cameras and interactive whiteboards? The answer is in the learning. Which will be better to get the information to the students? A teacher cannot ignore certain technologies that not only make learning better, but also introduce students to technology that they may need in their futures. In fact, a teacher is doing their students an injustice if they don’t attempt to learn about these resources. It is not to say that technology should always be used. There are times when a basic worksheet or a textbook can be the most effective tool. It should not be forced. Technology needs to have its place along with all other tools available.
Overall, it is up to the teachers to find the best method available to teach the students we now have. Through the years, the students will continue to change, and along with that more forms of technology will become available. Hopefully education will be able to keep up with technology to best prepare students for their futures.
