Technology: The Solution or The Path to The Solution?

Too many times I hear fellow educators praise technology as "the solution to education's problems". Is technology going to allow our students to magically learn more? Will technology increase their brain capacity thus allowing for greater information to fill their head? No. Educators and innovators must think of technology as "The Path to The Solution" (as I like to think of it).

Technology engages students today. Think about this. A student goes home in the evening - what does he/she do? Play video games. Listen to their iPod. Blog. Research on the Internet. Create Podcasts. Upload videos to YouTube. Social with friends on networking sites. They live their lives in the digital world. Shouldn't we use the tools of the digital world to engage them in learning?

Imagine a school with no library - no books - just computers. All research is done via the Internet. Instead of students typing papers and printing them off - they create digital content online, either in their personal blog or wiki. Students listen to speeches by authors or motivators through their iPod. They tell a story using software, video and digital video cameras. Imagine a student learning by utilizing the tools they use OUTSIDE of school. Imagine the captive audience a teacher would have while teaching about a topic. These are the innovations that can change student learning...these are "The Path to the Solution".

Watch this video on K-12 vision..it speaks to these items as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

JDS | CIO

Jing

If you haven't heard of this application - it is a must for the K-12 environment. Imagine being able to create your content with a few easy clicks on your PC? Jing gives you that ability. Images, videos can be uploaded to the site of your choice or stored locally on your PC for distribution at a later time. Check out these two items I created with Jing:

http://www.marshall.kyschools.us/documents/2008-04-25_1204.swf

For more information on Jing, visit:

http://www.jingproject.com/

JDS | CIO

Interactive Applications - Wii

Johnny Lee demos his amazing Wii Remote hacks, which transform the $40 game piece into a digital whiteboard, a touchscreen and a head-mounted 3-D viewer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgKCrGvShZs

JDS | CIO

Articles

If you haven't ever viewed eSchool News, take a moment and read some of their articles. Here are two excellent articles related to student use of technology (both in the classroom and out of the classroom) and how that technology impacts their lives.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53593;_hbguid=a6aa6ee2-9494-429a-ab78-0a4f991e2477


http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/?i=53586;_hbguid=937dd4fd-2413-42f6-981a-2511115010f6


Leave any thoughts or opinions related to these articles.

JDS CIO

Welcome

Welcome to CIO Corner. The purpose of this blog is provide you with information, tools and a purpose for the successful implementation and integration of technology in your environment. While the focus of our topics will center around the K-12 environment, we will occasionally venture out into other realms.

Technology is a tool that changes with each passing second. It has changed the way we live our lives, the way we communicate and the way we process information. You will never hear me offer technology as the solution to a problem, however technology - if utilized effectively - can be a means to that solution.

Feel free to offer suggestions, feedback and any other relevant information for CIO Corner.

JDS | CIO