Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology Chapter 10 Reflection

How my thinking on technology in education was affected after reading this chapter was that it really brought into focus that change in education is occurring. I think that the main idea was that lifelong learning is going to be the key difference from education of the past to how it is going to be different in the future.  It thought that the way that it was made real clear was the fact that many people today and in the foreseeable future will have many career changes in their lives that will necessitate having to return to school or take classes on the side to prepare them for those changes. Something really interesting that I found from this chapter was how it discussed that in many other parts of the world that most of the resources for education are put toward the top 10% of students in their respective countries versus in the United States where are more universal learning is the goal. That is something that really surprised me. I think that being different and having the ideal of universal education is something positive that U.S. has going for it in its educational institution.  The problem is that though we have the goal for a chance at universal education it is not a reality. I can see how technology can attempt to level the playing field but without substantial reform on how schools are funded and the model we use for schools changes it will not be a reality. The idea of the lower cost computers allowing disadvantaged students will help in this equalization, but there will always be those with more means to get the tools that they want to give them an edge whether that be in being able to afford better equipment or private tutors. It is kind of a pessimistic view, but it I find it to be realistic. One of the things that I think that this book comes back to as a repeated theme is the idea of motivation and applicability. Over and over again that seems to be the core of what this book has gotten at, technology just seems to be one of the main tools they prescribe to improve the health of the system. 

I think how this reading will impact my future teaching is it has put into perspective the things I can do. One thing that I can do is advocate for changes that I feel are important to improve the education of children in the district I work, this could range from changes I make in my own classroom to working to changing the curriculum in my department. Though these would not be huge in the grand scheme of education as a whole as a single teacher if effective I can hopefully influence others to change as well. Another effect that this new thinking will have on my future teaching is that I hope provide my students with options for their future, knowing that many of my students may not go to college I need to knowledgeable one what options they have in terms of other educational opportunities to prepare them for the workforce