Generation IM

       In the article Generation IM from Scholastic: Instructor, my eyes were opened even more facts about the impact of this digital age on children. The article states that "67% of preschool children use computers." Although I still sit in wonderment at comments like this, I must come to grips with the truth of this statement in order to be a successful teacher. It goes to show that early elementary students are in need of technology for stimulation, not just the upper grade-level students.

       My favorite quote from the article is this: "We need kids to think about problems in innovative and creative ways. We need to change the emphasis of education to focus on higher-order kinds of thinking." These higher-order kinds of thinking come through the use of technology. That is the new form of connection and communication in today's world. We need to take advantage of the available technology to prepare our students for the world they are going to face.

       I also liked the seven suggestions that the article provided to bring today's technology into the classroom. It did not just list the seven suggestions, but it also provided a detailed description, followed by examples to further explain how technology could best be put to use.