Turning on the Lights

I read an article entitled "Turning on the Lights" by Marc Prensky that opened my eyes to the needs of students in today's age. It was stated in the article that when teachers demand students to power down all electronic devices -- cell phones, ipods, internet, etc. -- they do not realize that they are also powering down the students' brains. This was so interesting to me, and it started to get me thinking. How can I keep my students engaged in my classroom through their world of technology without it being a distraction to their educational experience? We ask students to power down cell phones so that we can keep them as focused as possible during lessons, which I believe is very important. Yet at the same time, it is crucial to provide other resources of "light" in technology to advance their growth in learning.

I agree with the article when it explains the zeitgeist- the change of the times. It used to be that "we [teachers] were the people who showed the kids the light." It was the job of the teacher to lead the student out of intellectual darkness and bring them into an understanding of knowledge and success. Now it seems that students are coming into the classroom having already accessed much knowledge from the home and other outside sources through the internet. They are technologically literate, meaning that they can learn anything with the touch of a button. So, now then what is the task of a teacher? I believe that it is our job to direct their knowledge through the use of technology. Yes, they come to the classroom having already known everything that interests them through the touch of a button; However, it is still our task to guide the students to new knowledge, of more than just video games. The task of the teacher is still to push the students to a greater level of critical thinking. The only difference now is that teachers must achieve this through a new dimension called technology. If this can be accomplished, then students can have a successful educational experience.