Google Earth is one of the most fantastic web tools I've ever used/heard of. I remember my brother downloading it for me in 2005. I put in my address and a was able to see a blurry view of what I suspected was my house. Now, I can see my house clearly from every angle! It's as if I am standing in the middle of the street looking at my neighborhood. This tool has so many features that make it relevant to everyone who uses it, and everyone who should be using it.
Skills that were once thought of as being used only by professionals are now being challenged by the progression of the Read/Write Web and other Web Tools. Much of my frustration lies with the reluctancy of schools/districts to totally buy into it. Social media is a part of our lives, whether we like it or not. We need to be guiding our children through their possibilities instead of blocking them. Another frustration of mine is that once I win the fight for more access for my students, I won't really have the time to use it to it's fullest potential. Allow me to stand on my soap box for just a moment. Our failing district status has convinced the powers that be to focus on, in my opinion, bandaid fixes and tunnel vision approaches. These initiatives and mandates have congested the falls of learning with stressed scheduling, fleating specials, and non-stop, ineffective assessment worries. When are the children going to become as important as the process? When they do, technology will likely take a huge step up in the process.
I agree with your opinion that bandaid fixes and tunnel vision are the knee-jerk reactions of desperate people with no alternative answer to a significant problem. It's a shame that the higher order skills needed to be successful aren't being taught to the students. Rather, drill and kill in an attempt to improve test scores is the preferred method. Hopefully, technology and forward thinking people will one day be successful.
ReplyDelete