Generation IM (entry 7)

This article was a great reminder for teachers who want to keep their classrooms relevent to the students they teach. Most of our students will come to us with a wide variety of technological experience and if they don't use that experience in school, they may come to see school as useless. The article points out some reasons why today's teachers are struggling to incorporate technology into their lessons, and I can fully relate to these reasons. Teachers are strapped for time as it is trying to match their lessons to state standards, accomodate students needs, attend meetings, keep up with paperwork, etc. Trying to learn something new to the point of becoming comfortable enough with it to use it in the classroom can just be too time consuming. Many schools lack the appropriate training and follow-up needed to help teachers expand their tech-knowledge. I really think the younger generation of teachers is at a far greater advantage in this area as they have grown up with these media and are familiar enough with them to seamlessly incorporate use of technology into their classrooms. I appreciated the list of ways teachers can bring technology into their classrooms, but again, teachers need to be adequately trained how to set up wikis, social networks, blogs, bookmarking sites, and others in order to effectively use them with their students. I have a lot to learn if I want to catch up to my colleagues, my students, and even my own children! :)