Kathy’s Blog
Most of us have a general, if not specific, idea of where technology and learning are going. We also have a vague feeling of “eating the dust” of the younger generation as they speed ahead of us into the future.
If you doubted that, let me cite some results of Project Tomorrow’s 5th Annual Speak Up survey, in which students, teachers, parents, and administrators give their views on technology in education. The results of the survey, which came out on April 8, reveal a growing “digital disconnect” between students and their teachers and parents about the role of technology for learning and how well schools are preparing them for future jobs.
The results show that 66% of administrators, 47% of teachers, and 43% of parents say “local schools are doing a good job preparing students for the jobs and careers of the future,” but over 40% of middle and high school students say that teachers limit their use of technology in schools, and 45% say that firewalls and filters are inhibiting their learning.
Project Tomorrow CEO Julie Evans says, “Students continue to be on the leading edge in terms of adopting, modifying, and re-using digital content and technology tools to enrich both their personal and educational lives. The students in many ways are far ahead of their teachers and parents not only in the sophistication of their technology use, but also in the adoption of emerging technologies for learning purposes. It is in our nation’s best interest that we support and facilitate student usage of technology for learning.”
Project Tomorrow’s survey asked students about three developing technologies and found that respondents were positive about them. More than two-thirds of students say they play online or computer games and many would like to see them used in education; many of them, particularly high school and middle school students, would like to explore online learning; and the majority said they could use technology more easily at school if they could use their own laptops, cell phones, or mobile devices to do their work.
Learn more about the Project Tomorrow survey at http://www.tomorrow.org/docs/Press%20Release%20Apr%208%2008.pdf
Their community is the world
One of the most watched videos on YouTube is a young man in his mid-teens sitting on his bed playing the guitar with a baseball cap shielding his identity. TCEA 2008 closing keynoter Marco Torres, in his presentation at the February convention, showed this very video of Jeong-Hyun Lim, known as funtwo online, playing a version of Pachelbel’s Canon on the guitar.
That one video by the young Korean currently has over 41 million views. Let me say that again — 41 million. That’s more people than currently live in the entire state of Texas.
The obvious talent of this young man has influenced countless young people across the globe. Many have learned to play the guitar by carefully watching and listening to his version of the classical piece. By the way, view the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8 .