With the pace of change in technology likely to continue at warp speed, there is a clear need to step back and take a fresh look at the challenges and opportunities facing leaders worldwide. Today, many seek out turnkey solutions that can blur the understanding of right and wrong when it comes to technology implementation. Change is inevitable and ubiquitous, but honesty and transparency must prevail.
Let's reaffirm the obvious: everything starts with education, and no education system can remain static. We are at an inflection point, and we must embrace and lead change. We must provide the kind of education that our students need to be prepared for their future.
"Since knowledge has moved onto networks, there is more knowledge than ever, but topics have no boundaries …. Perhaps now good questions are more important than answers when it comes to learning in the Big Shift era," professor John Seely Brown said in a 2012 lecture. We need to get the questions right. That means that we have to be careful about developing solutions based on misdiagnosed problems.
In general, education technology provides an exciting opportunity to embrace a new array of learning environments, such as digital content, social networking, cloud services, mobile devices, and predictive data analysis. It is the convergence of these new technologies and how they interact and complement one another that provides the potential to change the future of education.
Digital trends are shifting the role of teachers. According to a report based on data from Project Tomorrow's 2012 Speak Up Survey, "Virtual, blended, and flipped learning teachers are using more digital content with students than traditional teachers" and "students see online learning as a more personal, controlled learning process."
As these new ideas of what education should look like flood our classrooms, several questions from Project Tomorrow come into view: "What is the students' vision for digital learning today, and how has that vision evolved over the past 10 years?" and "How well are we meeting the current aspirations and expectations of our [K–12] students … for using emerging technologies to personalize their learning process?"
Sometimes despite even the best intentions, our zeal for technology can obscure the big picture. When this happens, teachers get exhausted by a series of seemingly disconnected and unending new initiatives. Technology can be used as a bridge for learning when school officials partner collaboratively with teachers to help them grow in capacity.
Amazing teachers are everywhere. We cannot shortchange their commitment and dedication to help their students and prepare them to become productive, contributing citizens. Nor can we forget our legacy—to deliver knowledge to the students who will become leaders of tomorrow.
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Attention ASCD Members
ASCD's 2014 General Membership election is open April 1 through May 15. Please go to www.ascd.org/vote, log in with your username and password, and cast your ballot for two new members of the Board of Directors. If you have any questions, please contact Governance Manager Becky DeRigge at bderigge@ascd.org.