I have mixed feelings about the article. It is obvious that what it is saying is right. Our world is moving in direction of technology faster than ever before and will probably pick up speed. Education should not ride into the future on the coattails of technology but should be grabbing it by the lapels and pulling it into the future.
Most of the skills described in the article are not new to education. Things like inventive thinking, effective communication, visual literacy, multicultural literacy, and high productivity were already goals of education. Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it seemed like the article was hinting that schools were not working towards these skills at all and these skills have just come to light in the past ten years with the growth of technology.
The growth of technology, in my opinion, has created two things for schools to address. The first is to master, if possible, the technology that is out there and put it to use in the classroom so education is leading the way instead of catching up. The second is to add to outcome goals that which is necessary to produce students who are ready for the challenges of our world today.
The article talked about what the business world needs schools to do to send them workers who are prepared for the challenges of their world. The article needs to add another section about what the business world needs to do to to FUND the schools' efforts. Right now, a large percentage of the public is against increased spending for the schools. For schools to achieve what the article asked takes money and a lot of it. Technology is growing exponentially and along with it costs grow exponentially. Right now, money available to school districts is not keeping up with the rising costs of education. A concept that should certainly not be lost on the business community. It also takes money and time to train teachers to use the technology effectively in the classroom. Right now, if training takes place, it usually is paid for by the teacher.
Maybe the business world should invest in their future by investing in our children's future and help with the rising costs of education.
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1 comment:
You were right! Both in the long-windedness of your post AND in what you said in the content of your post! BRAVO! And keep up that thinking... it will go far for yourself and those of us lucky enough to teach with you to benefit from it.
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