It’s Our Future
Computers and technology in general, are now a way of life in our society. Technology is everywhere so we need to seek the best way to utilize it which means teaching our young people about the importance of technology today. Computer literacy is so much more than being able to play a game, send an e-mail, or surf the web. As Eisenberg and Johnson stated in their paper titled Learning and Teaching Information Technology “computer literacy is not only knowing how to operate computers, but to use technology as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem solving.”
Although our schools are spending a lot of money on technology, students of today will not have the skills necessary to survive in today’s workplace because of the current system in which we are teaching students about technology. As stated in the article, educational associations “are advocating for a more meaningful use of technology in schools.” This means integrated information skills programs should be used instead of our current method of isolated technology skills. Our current methods of isolated technology skills or separate computer classes don’t teach students how to apply the skills they learn in a meaningful way. On the other hand an integrated program would be more effective because it would relate to the content in the curriculum, and it would tie technology in with classroom assignment in a logical way. In order to create integrated information skills programs, teachers need to plan and collaborate with library media specialists and computer teachers so that lessons include both information and technology skills as well as the regular content discussed in a classroom.
Instead of just teaching children how to do a bunch of different skills on the computer, teachers need to focus on the “when” and “why” of technology so that they understand how the skills fit together in a meaningful way. Fitting these various skills together will make it easier for students to problem solve while also allowing them to be both flexible and creative with the computer. Children need to become proficient at many different technologies in order to thrive in their everyday life and in the workplace.
Although our schools are spending a lot of money on technology, students of today will not have the skills necessary to survive in today’s workplace because of the current system in which we are teaching students about technology. As stated in the article, educational associations “are advocating for a more meaningful use of technology in schools.” This means integrated information skills programs should be used instead of our current method of isolated technology skills. Our current methods of isolated technology skills or separate computer classes don’t teach students how to apply the skills they learn in a meaningful way. On the other hand an integrated program would be more effective because it would relate to the content in the curriculum, and it would tie technology in with classroom assignment in a logical way. In order to create integrated information skills programs, teachers need to plan and collaborate with library media specialists and computer teachers so that lessons include both information and technology skills as well as the regular content discussed in a classroom.
Instead of just teaching children how to do a bunch of different skills on the computer, teachers need to focus on the “when” and “why” of technology so that they understand how the skills fit together in a meaningful way. Fitting these various skills together will make it easier for students to problem solve while also allowing them to be both flexible and creative with the computer. Children need to become proficient at many different technologies in order to thrive in their everyday life and in the workplace.
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