Tonight I was reading the article entitled, 2020 vision. I particularly liked the quote that was made by Thomas Edison in 1913. He said... "I believe that the motion picture is destined to revolutionize our educational system and that in a few years it will supplant largely, if not entirely, the use of textbooks".
He was in large part right. Today's school classroom is so different from that of a century ago. In nearly every classroom across the nation there are computers, some classrooms have several. Many classroooms today, even at the elementary school level, have smart boards. In fact some classrooms don't even operate with a teacher there, they use the distance learning technology which transports the student to another classroom across the city, state, or even nation. While we do still have the use of textbooks in school, it's amazing to see the changes that are going on in our schools. It's nice to be taking a technology class that will prepare us for some of these changes.
In addition, this article spoke of the toys that children of the future will have, the games and technology that will be part of their life. I read this and then thought about the children that exist today, the children that live in poorer neighborhoods, or on the streets, or inside abandoned cars. What will these children do in the future? Where will they be? Will they have these toys and if they don't what will it mean for the development and their place in society. These issues were not really what the article was talking about at all, but I thought of what a large part money plays in the use of technology, who has it, who uses it and for what purposes. Ultimately, those who have it are in the know and can incoporporate it into their lives, but what about those who do not? What will happen to them?
2 comments:
I feel that your worries are valid. I think that they address the issue of what it will mean in the future to be literate. I believe that in the future to be literate will mean that you can read and write as well as be proficient in the use of computers (including emails, blogs, Microsoft office like programs and even pay your bills or order goods online). It is my fear that just as our illiterate population is disadvantaged and looked down upon our future illiterate population will only be at a greater disadvantage.
I'm glad you read the article and shared a little about it with the class. Technology is rapidly changing our society and it seems to me that education will need to keep up with these changes if for no other reason than to make sure that everyone is included, as Vincent states.
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