E-ducation

Our students have radically changed due to our advancing technology. They are no longer the students that our education system was designed for. Today’s learners are online, interactive, collaborative and networked. They all have Facebook and Myspace accounts. They are accustomed to hypertexts, music on their ipods, phones in their hands, laptops in their bags and sending and receiving e-mails everyday. They are no longer only consumers of knowledge. They are also the producers of it. They have new ideas; they need to tell their e-stories. They write blogs and complete online information everyday. They speak a new language that we’re not used to, using words such as blogging, wikis, podcasting, bookmarking, feeding items etc. Classrooms are no longer the only place for them to experience learning. They have already explored new ways how to improve themselves.
What should we do about it? We can start revising how and what we teach. This doesn’t mean changing everything or giving up what works. Our curriculum should include reading, writing, thinking skills and other traditional content. We can also include technology in our curriculum because technology is the future. It promotes student-centered learning. It’s evolving, motivating and authentic. All of which leads to their autonomy. How can we make the most of these new tools? How can we use technology to create a new and an e-based environment in our schools for our online students? What do you think?