Reading Reflection Week 9

                I thought this chapter was very interesting and made many good points.  I found the most interesting issues to be in the section that discussed the “gap” between “where we are and where we need to be in regard to meeting the technological requirements to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s careers.” (Chapter 21, page 213)

                One point that I found to be very interesting in this section was the percentage of states that require technology training for teacher certification.  Less than half of the states in the U.S. actually require technology training.  That fact is mind boggling considering the fact that we have access to so much great technology for teachers and students.  What was even more interesting is that only twenty percent of states require technology training or testing for teacher recertification.  It is no wonder that many teachers have not changed their attitudes about technology in the classrooms.  The more opportunities they have to work with technology and to see how students can benefit from it, the more likely it is that they will be willing to use it in the classroom.  While I think it is important to have required technology training for initial certification, I think it is even more important to have technology training or testing for recertification.  The newest teachers are getting the most technology training; however, the teachers that have been certified for many years have a limited knowledge of technology.  I think every state should require training and/or testing for initial teacher certification and recertification.

                Another point that I found to be very interesting in this section was the fact that “education is ranked as the least technology-intensive enterprise among fifty-five U.S. industry sectors.” (Chapter 21, page 213)  Education should be number one ranking, next to those in IT or similar fields.  Education is where the knowledge for a career starts.  Schools need to train students early in the field of technology because that is what is at the forefront of our society.  Without the training of technology at an early age, students will have a harder time grasping those concepts later.  Technology in schools should be a high priority and it is not, which is just sad.

                I think the common ground between these two points that I found to be interesting is that there is a lack of knowledge on the importance of technology in Education.  The more knowledge we have, the better choices we can make for our students and they need training in technology early on.  The more educators know about technology and the benefits it can have for our students, the more willing they will be to use it in the classroom.  Teachers need to be open to learning about technology and they also need to be open to actually using it in the classroom.  I think there needs to be a major shift in the focus of education.  The first thing that needs to be done is requiring teachers to have the proper training and testing of technology.  Without that, technology will not go anywhere in education.