What student under the age of twelve doesn’t have a Smart Phone, IPOD, or computer? In the next ten years there will be more portable devices that have access to the Internet than people. Devices that have access to information will out-number the number of people in the next few years. At times it is easy to forget what life was like without cell phones and online portable devices. Our kids can’t believe that their parents lived in a time where there were no cell phones. The productivity of our world has grown by leaps and bounds; however, frustration by those trying to learn to get the most out of the technology can be as wasteful as technology can be productive. Nothing is more frustrating for a teacher than spending two hours trying to put lesson plans in a software program when it could have been finished if they could have just put them in a paper planner!!! How does this help me? How does this help our kids? Technology takes time in order to save time. We are in a world that must dedicate time to training and supporting those learning new technologies. We also have to be conscious of the new technology we infiltrate in our schools, for students and teachers. One study explained that for every new initiative started, 80 hours of professional development time should be reserved. Wow. That is a tough challenge; however, opportunities with online professional development instead of face-to-face meetings make this at least more possible. The whole purpose of technology is to be more productive, and it should always save time. Our younger generations are definitely keen at learning how to play video games, use IPADS and learn new software programs. Our students are problem solving all the time with new technology. If only we could duplicate this type of problem solving in the classroom. It can start with using technology. Alan November jokes that just adding computers to the classroom doesn’t necessarily mean technology is successful. He uses the analogy of a $1000 pencil. Technology has to have more purpose than data management and organization. The ability to view digital streaming events of cultures all over the world is something that should equal the playing field for all students, no matter what their economic position is. It should start in schools. The ability to use www.Kahnacademy.com for math lessons, and see science experiments online are wonderful opportunities for those wanting information. The Internet has given everyone the opportunity to learn. If technology doesn’t save us time, then we need to spend more time learning the technology. What student under the age of twelve doesn’t have a Smart Phone, IPOD, or computer? In the next ten years there will be more portable devices that have access to the Internet than people. Devices that have access to information will out-number the number of people in the next few years. At times it is easy to forget what life was like without cell phones and online portable devices. Our kids can’t believe that their parents lived in a time where there were no cell phones. The productivity of our world has grown by leaps and bounds; however, frustration by those trying to learn to get the most out of the technology can be as wasteful as technology can be productive. Nothing is more frustrating for a teacher than spending two hours trying to put lesson plans in a software program when it could have been finished if they could have just put them in a paper planner!!! How does this help me? How does this help our kids? Technology takes time in order to save time. We are in a world that must dedicate time to training and supporting those learning new technologies. We also have to be conscious of the new technology we infiltrate in our schools, for students and teachers. One study explained that for every new initiative started, 80 hours of professional development time should be reserved. Wow. That is a tough challenge; however, opportunities with online professional development instead of face-to-face meetings make this at least more possible. The whole purpose of technology is to be more productive, and it should always save time. Our younger generations are definitely keen at learning how to play video games, use IPADS and learn new software programs. Our students are problem solving all the time with new technology. If only we could duplicate this type of problem solving in the classroom. It can start with using technology. Alan November jokes that just adding computers to the classroom doesn’t necessarily mean technology is successful. He uses the analogy of a $1000 pencil. Technology has to have more purpose than data management and organization. The ability to view digital streaming events of cultures all over the world is something that should equal the playing field for all students, no matter what their economic position is. It should start in schools. The ability to use www.Kahnacademy.com for math lessons, and see science experiments online are wonderful opportunities for those wanting information. The Internet has given everyone the opportunity to learn. If technology doesn’t save us time, then we need to spend more time learning the technology.