Article Reflection - Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues

The theories about education vary worldwide. There are few countries around the world that have similar ideologies about how the education of their students is best practiced in order to give their students an edge over the others from around the globe. Students from different countries all believe they are receiving the best education their is but are they? Are their county's really doing what is best for them? Are they current with technology? Are they adaptive to global change? Do they have a plan for the future of their students? These are the questions that must get answered before a country can say that they are of the best in the world.


The article I choose to review is one from 2003 where two professors looked at the issues of technology in education globally. Professor Sudha Swaminathan is from the Department of Education and is an Associate Professor at Eastern Connecticut State University and Professor Nicola Yelland is from the Department of Early Childhood, RMT, in Victoria Australia. Together they we guest editors on the article that review trends and issues with the global perspective on educational technology.


This paper will review a few key points about the article: Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues, explain how the article relates to the course objectives, how it impacts my teaching with technology, and reflect on what I learned from reading this article.


Review
The article Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues discusses the many trends and issues involved with the educational technology. The key areas mentioned in the article are government mandates, national curricular standards, teacher education, curricular integration (add-on or catalyst), selection and use of IT tools, equity and accessibility, the home environment, assessment of outcomes, and the rethinking of traditional pedagogy.


Of the issues listed above, some of these issues weigh more than others. After reading the article, you will notice that it is often the government mandates and national curricular standards that cause the first speed bump in the road towards a global education. Many governments are looking to bolster their country's education system by integrating new technologies to keep up with the fast paced world.


This would be great if it came with proper teacher education. The article states that "teacher training has not accompanied the rapid immersion of technology into classrooms." Because of this, there needs to be a great focus on teacher training as well as work with those who are stuck teaching in the "traditional" not technology ways. "What is needed is a reconceptualization of both content and pedagogy" states Yelland.


The article also talks about proper selection and us of IT tools in the classroom. They discuss that often times, technology is brought into classrooms for the sake of "having technology" and the thought never occurred to the district about HOW they will use the technology. This makes no sense but yet, it is happening in school district across the country. District are spending money on "technology" that they THINK will help the students but in all actuality, they are wasting money on technology that cannot be used for the purposes intended.


Relate to Course Objectives
As current and future teachers, we need to figure out a way that allows us integrate technology into our classroom without it becoming the focus. The education of tomorrow is one that is global in nature and must be provided to our students. Below, I have attached two videos that discuss why educational technology must be used in today's classrooms as well as ways that can be integrated.


Going Global 2011 - Harvesting Technology to Address the Global Educational Challenges

Technology (ICTs) in Education

Though today's student may not look much different than those of years past (clothing and artistic expression noted), they are a new breed of students. Students still go to their local schools to learn but what they are learning is far beyond that of yesteryears students. Students now get their information online rather than books, they all have access to the internet via IPods, IPads, Smart Phones, Laptops, Tablets, etc., and they all are highly technologically advanced.

Getting these students the technology as well as the proper integration of curriculum and technology has become the job of today's teacher. We have to push for our students to become global in their thoughts. We must see if they're are able to see the "Big Picture" and utilize the skills they have with the technology available. This is the challenge of today's students and teachers.

How Does This Impact My Teaching?
My teaching isn't impacted as much as those who's pedagogy is one of the "Traditional Educator" who utilizes text books, libraries, card catalogs, etc. These teachers are the one's who are effected the greatest, IF the school is open to the use of these technologies. The biggest impact for me would be if I were to begin teaching in a school/district that is closed to the idea of global education/technology. I did not come from a traditional educational background. I have always had technology at my fingertips and have always included it into my lessons.

Teaching is an art of combining many different tools to provide student's with the best potential education. If the national curricular standards were to change, or the district were to not allow for me to utilize the many global technologies that I currently plan to use, than there may be a greater impact than what is already known by thousands of educators.

Reflection
I found this article to be a very interesting one. The fact that this article is 8 years old and yet, many of the problems stated within it are still problems today is a tad discouraging. I know that I personally learn better with the use of technology and that I feel that I can provide my students with a better, more authentic education, if the current system were to change and provide more open access to technology as well as more funding so that more students can gain access. These two issues are what I feel are most important in terms of getting my students a better global education with the proper technology.