My Thoughts

With the world moving itself online, it is important for the 21st century students to be aware of the technology that surrounds them. It is also important that they have the knowledge of how to take these pieces of technology and use them to further their understanding and improve their learning experience. An example of this can be seen with banking:
You're at the shops and your card declines because you've spent too much, but you really need this book to finish off your assignment. Instead of having to go to the bank to transfer funds, you can jump online to get the money quickly, and if you have a mobile phone you can access the Internet on your handset and make the instant transfer while standing at the checkout.
Technology is becoming more advanced and easier to access which is why everyone is turning to Internet for exposure and info, so you can be sure that 21st century students need to be tech-savvy to survive in this world.

Last century the technology was very limited and most people ignored it as a phase that would pass, so they didn't feel the need to familiarise themselves with it because they could do just fine without this fancy technology. With the increase in development of technology we have seen in just the past decade it is obvious that this is not just a phase.

In regards to teaching and learning, the new technologies can be used to gain interest from students, in the form of YouTube clips as demonstrations for science projects, or games on solving mathematical problems. These sites, such as The Lemonade Stand, seem informal but their reinforcement of learning strategies is incredible. Students become so engaged with the activities that relate to their class that they find the subject more enjoyable and they excel in their work.

Using the Internet for resources is an amazing idea. There is so much information out in cyberspace just waiting to be accessed! as long as you can navigate a search menu, to enable the maximum content recovered is from sources you require (i.e. credible sources for study purposes). also allowing free access to other technologies as a reward is a good idea so that students feel good about completing work and strive to do so more often. Restrictions have been imposed in schools on Ipods and mobile phones, but the students always bring them into class with them anyway. Why not set down some ground rules about not using technology to disrupt others from their learning and allow these pieces of technology be used as a reward once the classwork is done?

- Kyah xx