ED252 - Final Paper , Fall'10

ED252 - Final Paper , Fall'10

1.       New developments in the “digital-communication technology” bring about challenging yet positive changes to the role of future teachers. Rather than simple introduction of basic knowledge of new technologies, teachers must be living examples of model cyber users in order to prepare students of the real world. Rather than shielding the students from the potentially dangerous tools: internet, teachers should be able to educate the students how to identify the threat, “how to tame your dragon” and take advantages of the universe of knowledge and opportunities provided by the World Wide Web. Most likely students will be overwhelmed by the massive intake of information, thus it is our job to help them filter facts and opinions, reliable and unreliable sources. Right from this moment, as a young learner and a future teacher, I should make a point to remember my struggling path to control of technology rather than being taken over by its power. This will allow me to be more understanding toward my students; their excitement and their mistakes to find the best solution to guide them through.  Furthermore, in order to not becoming a “technology immigrant”, I should keep myself updated with the upcoming trends. I believe this effectively will minimize the generation gap between me, as the teacher and my students.

2.       In my opinion, I do not entirely agree with governance of education. First and foremost, I strongly believe that, more than anyone else teachers, who interact with students, understand their individual and unique needs for education. Thus, directly, the teachers and the schools should be given more authority for control. Secondly, governance of education brings about the hierarchy of power, which is not flexible for changes. Knowing well that in this time and ages, rapid changes happen everywhere thanks to the development of technology, thus it would be limiting if the power to bring updates to classrooms is not within the authority of teachers. The process of getting acceptance from the state more than often takes too much time, that once legalized by the state, there is already a more updated method available. Therefore, the idea of centralized control, even though brings about more security, limits education from embracing real world practice, which includes both challenging and enriching experience for the students and risks, turbulence. Therefore, a certain degree of governance of education should be intact to protect students from the wild transformation of technology and teaching material. However, in order to equip them with realistic skills for their future, decentralized control – given more power to the schools and teachers is indeed necessary.