WE NEED ANY-CENTURY SKILLS
And we need to embrace technology, but not overdo it!
We Need to Remember Any-Century Skills!
Jim Moulton was absolutely right when he said that learning any-century skills, such as the ability to use scissors properly and effectively, "lays a foundation for future complex conceptual understandings." In my current philosophy class, the example I used when having a similar discussion was, "You can't have a science experiment without first questioning something." The same applies here; you can't fully grasp what gravity is, even with most complex definitions and formulas, if you've never dropped a ball, fell off a bike, etc. Any-century skills set the conceptual framework for more advanced and even individualized skills. You can't write a novel if you've never learned to write your name.
Perhaps What We Really Need is Balance!
We Are 21st Century Learners, Whether You Let it Happen in the Classroom or Not!
Why should we embrace but limit technology?
Of course, technology is a very useful tool, but, as Marc Prensky stated, a lot of schools are turning away from technology. Of course, having students put away cell phones and stop using Facebook during class is necessary for learning to truly occur, but to shut technology completely out is mind-boggling. And here's why: technology can vastly improve the educational system by providing an entire "world" of resources. As Prensky stated, we live in a customization-based culture, and education should be no different. Students are going to need technology in order to succeed after school, and it will help keep them focused during school if the teachers can come up with constructive lessons that involve creating or using technology to gain information, complete projects, or conduct research.