I have been spending quite a bit of time thinking about technology. The Burlington Community School District in Iowa has started the talks about upgrading technology and previous to Burlington I worked in rural community where I helped implement a 1 to 1 laptop initiative. Technology brings to mind efficiency, speed, connected, collaboration, and other thoughts. I view these things and see the positive attributes technology can bring to the classroom.
I also see the important need for the guidance of teachers in classrooms. Technology can do a lot of things, but it can not tell you to dust yourself off when you fail and try again. Technology can not say what you are doing wrong and give you advice on how to do it better. Technology only does what the user tells it to do.
A positive teacher can help you make the correction and encourage you to retry the idea. A teacher gives you advice on different methods and encourages you to try again. A teacher helps students determine what technology can be effective for completing the project. The great teacher lets the student know that they matter in the world and how the student can have an impact on society.
My final thought on the subject is technology is needed in every classroom and positive educators are needed to help the child dust themselves off and try again.
