Journal 4 - Hook Em' Up!

Riedel, Chris (2009, January). Create, Collaborate, Communicate:Empowering Students with 21st Century Skills. T.H.E. Journal, Retrieved 2009, February,
Riedel's article is basically stating that the current educational curriculum is not up to par with technology standards. The survey on IT savvy jobs was shocking to see that education was at the bottom of the pile! I understand what Riedel is getting at with his point that education needs to catch up with the rest of society. Children are more technically advanced and versed than ever before, but it's teachers who are struggling to keep up with all of the new technology tools available to assist classroom lessons. However, in an economic recession we can't even hold on to teacher's jobs let alone purchase the latest educational technology. I am sick and tired of hearning about how our teachers need this and that under the circumstances of our financial situation. Yes, we do need to do our best to provide our students and teachers with the most recent technology available, but not at the cost of jobs and larger class sizes. Something has to take priority, and in my opinion basic education must come before fancy new technology. Now with this said, part of basic education should incorporate technology use a requirement. I think the most benificial way I could use technology as a PE teacher would be to use a nutrition program to allow my students to chart out their diets. The program would enable the students to see how many calories they are eating and burning in order to adjust their goals of weight loss, gain, or maintain. Learning how to use a program like this would help the students carry their knowledge into later years, which will hopefully encourage them to watch what they eat and how much they exercise.

1. How does the education curriculum ensure students will be technology savvy?

The basic school curriculum needs to include technology classes that allow students to learn basic technology skills like Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and an online etiquette class. This will help students understand the basic tech skills, which hopefully will allow them to learn other programs more easily.

2. How does the state not go broke while giving schools the necessary technology it needs to keep up with the times?

As a system we need to ask for the help of different technology companies to help donate equipment. In return we can promote the products we receive from the company.