The Rainbow Connection...

Philosophies, Theories, and Literacy oh my...

These three topics are the foundations of understanding the importance of technology in the classroom.  I have come to realize that it doesn't matter if you are looking at global theories on education or IT based philosophies, they are all interrelated to the point where most have something in common.  What they all have in common is the importance of communication and the role that it plays in the lives of EVERYONE! 

Education is turning into a giant factory system, where our goal seems to be to provide the most efficient education with the greatest end result.  Standardized tests are the way that the government gauges how well the factories (schools) are turning out the products (students).  This systematic approach to education has us looking at the loss of teacher control over the classroom creativity and bringing around the idea of teaching to the test.  Creativity in education, whether you take the progressive or reconstruction approach, is was what allows teachers to give students and wide variety of experiences and couple it with hands-on learning that will carry them into the "real world". 

One of the extremely important life skills that is becoming increasingly important is the idea that teachers need to introduce visual and media literacy into the classroom.  It used to be that literacy meant reading text, but with technology ever improving literacy no longer can be just isolated to text.  Technology has brought along the invention of television, movies, and the Internet to name a few.  We, as educators, need to help students to understand what digital literacy is and how to use analytical skills to read the symbols and images associated with this new type of literacy.  This brings us back to the way we educate students.  No longer can we stay rooted in conservative educational and IT philosophies, but we must embrace a changing attitude.