Moving Towards the Future

Katie McMillan Culp, Margaret Honey and Ellen Mandinach (2005) believe that, "Technology is the embodiment and the means of much of the social and economic change of the past century” (p. 286). We can’t live in the past. We must move into the present and the future. One of the most important reason technology needs to be embedded into student’s daily school life is because; technology has become part of their daily life. Wherever you go, we are surrounded by technology and it is only increasing. We must teach them how to use it properly and effectively. According to Okojie and Olinzock (2006):

Schools have the responsibility of preparing the American workforce for competitive domestic and global markets. Therefore, it is imperative that teachers keep pace with the technological transformation and show a willingness to continually update their knowledge and skill. (p.33)

If we do not teach technology to our students on a daily basis, it will be impossible for us to continue to maintain, "The economic and political dominance of the United States globally” (Culp, Honey & Mandinach, 2005, p. 283). Other countries will surpass us if we remain stuck in the past and don’t change the way in which we educate our students. We must teach, “Technology skills critical to the future employment of today's students” (Culp, Honey, & Mandinach, 2005, p. 283). That future will undoubtedly be heavy in the use of technology. ChanLin (2007) asserts that our, "Educational practices need to prepare students to thrive in an ever-changing technological society” (p. 46). Schools must work towards what our students will face in their future. Whether it is in their job or in their personal life, technology will be there. We must help them prepare for that. Currently many students are not receiving enough technology education to give them the tools they will need for their future. This is our responsibility as educators, and elementary school is too early to start.

Culp, K. M., Honey, M., & Mandinach, E. (2005). A Retrospective on Twenty Years of Education Technology Policy. Journal of Educational Computing Research. 32(3), 279-307.

ChanLin, L.-J. (2007). Perceived Importance and Manageability of Teachers toward the Factors of Integrating Computer Technology into Classrooms. Innovations in Education & Teaching International. 44(1), 45-55.