Thank you to everyone who posted thus far! If you read through the responses, several of us maintained that we need to take risks with our instruction to let students have access to technology at school. However, there is a certain level of fear out there about how exactly to use these new tools.
Just to let everyone know, I have been attending some lunch classes on technology offered through BISD. The ITS are amazing! I have learned so much this year about using these tools in my job as a principal. I can say though, sometimes you just have to get out there and mess with the tools to get comfortable. I would encourage ALL OF YOU to get your students in the labs and try something new. (Just this past week, I learned how to Twitter.)
Article II in the VI document presents a discussion on New Learning Standards. These standards should be clear, deal with multiple intelligences and be flexible enough to expand at the local level (to name a few).
Watch this video before responding.
This week's question...
How would you write these new learning standards in a way that would incorporate a future that we may not be able to imagine yet? Information is multiplying at an exponential rate, how do we keep up?
Keep up the postings!!! Way to go BES!
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I am amazed, humbled and overwhelmed at the thought of the growing technology. I admit that as young as I think I am...I still missed the boat on being a "digital native." It is amazing how much has developed over the past 10-15 years. I still hold near and dear to my hear the idea that books are important and that there is something to be cherished and aesthetically experienced when holding a book and exploring its pages.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am learning and trying to shift my own thinking to the possibilities of digital learning and reading. What this will look like for primary grades I am not yet sure of, but I do know that our students enjoy being on the computer (listening, reading, exploring, playing and writing).
I have just recently learned hot to podcast and my second graders are really enjoying this. I think back to Regie Routman and her teaching...she always emphasized with reading and writing that it has to be authentic. What could be more authentic than putting real students with real reading out there for a real audience to listen to?
If we think of how we can enrich literacy or any subject with technology...I think the most important element is that it is used for authentic learning purposes. If we keep this at the forefront of our teaching and growing knowledge of technology I think our students will be well-developed and soon will become independent thinkers (as the Youtube presentation suggests).
Like Meagan, who is MUCH younger than me, I feel there is no greater experience than reading a good book and really "getting into the characters." In reading, I think using online stories to initially get students interested in reading is a great idea; however, I often feel frustrated because of lack of equipment in my room to do this. I envision a classroom where every student has a laptop computer and turning to technology would be as easy as opening the laptop. Until that time, I don't really think we can utilize technology to the fullest. The teacher using technology is wonderful, but the students having access in the classroom on a regular basis is the ultimate goal. Until that happens, teachers are only the means to the end. I think if given the tools, we (teachers) would make learning through technology happen. Many of us will need more training, but teachers WILL RISE to the challenge as we always do.
ReplyDeleteI think we will always desire to hold a book in our hands or at least I hope so, but what I see changing is what we do after we read the book. Spelling City is a great way to let the kids work on vocabulary words from the book. Making online tests about the main idea, characters, setting, etc. is easy and a fun way to test their knowledge. How about making a digital story board in Movie Maker from pictures the kids draw about the story. Let the students use audicity to record themselves reading the story or use the webcam to read the story live to another classroom. We don't need to throw out all the old ways, just incorporate some new technologies to spice up learning and teach the kids in a new and engaging way. We are educating a new generation. Let's make it so instead of waiting for that 3:15 bell to ring, they wish it would never ring.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing in the video that "raised my hackles" was the student that held a paper up where she'd written her words 5 times each and the sign beside it said "How will this help me", or something like that. This new technology is raising a generation that can't spell even the most simple of words. Spell Checker does NOT help a person learn to spell. It allows them to be lazy..ok, jumping off my soapbox.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need is a "happy medium" integrate what has always worked for years, with technology that will aid, but not replace tried and true teaching techniques.
So many feel it's a blessing to be bilingual, so why not be bilingual in "tech speak" using abbreviations or phonetic spelling online, and learn how to correctly spell words when hand writing something. I suppose hand writing something will eventually become obsolete to save the trees or something, but I'll be dead before THAT ever happens..LOL
I think "doing" is one of the reasons my job is so great. The kids like to be physically involved and active in their learning. I think that is one of the reasons PE is one of their favorite times of day. They are allowed to be up and moving and talking and "doing." Now if I can just incorporate some technology into my program, they will REALLY be engaged.
ReplyDeleteWhy do kids like playing their video games so much? Because they are "doing" something and not just sitting there listening to someone else talk "at" them. Whatever they are learning as to mean something to them.
Kids are selfish creatures (I guess we all are , really.). If they don't feel like what they are being presented with means something to them, they tune it out. We do the same thing when we are sitting in a meeting, conference, in-service, church or whatever. If we don't find the presentation relevant to our lives, we tune it out, play with our phones, fall asleep or find some other way to make it through.
If our goal is to teach kids to think for themselves, we have to stop doing all the thinking for them. We need to let them create, design or be involved in their learning. (You all know I am speaking to myself, also, as I am typing this!)
If you went to the WOW conference, this is what they talked about in our sessions. (If you haven't been able to go, I highly encourage you to try to go.) As teachers we are working WAY too hard. It's time to allow the kids to do some of the work. They want to~ we should allow them to. That is when they will learn to think and will be engaged.
I agree that there is something special about holding a book in your hands and the pleasure that can bring. However, that format is changing dramatically. I was amazed to see the number of texts (full stories) that can be downloaded from Itunes the other day. We live in such a fast paced society today that it is hard to find the time to sit down and read. We are going to have kids whose only exposure to literature outside of school will be in a virtual format (stories on the computer, downloaded text) or audio versions. It will make a huge impact on our students if we incorporate these into the classroom more often. I'm not saying do away with book format by any means...research shows that reading to a child (even my students) and the way we read (change in inflection, voice, etc...) has to do with brain development so it is essential that we keep doing that.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of incorporating a future that we don't even know what it will look like fascinates and excites me. I see that future for my students from a different point of view. I see technological advances that have the ability to improve the quality of life and learning for my kiddoes on so many different levels. The change in communication devices and the difference that has brought to people with developmental disabilities is astounding to see. For me to keep up with the changes, I have to be constantly researching what is out there. I know that is the same for the general ed teachers as well. We have to take the initiative to see what is out there and make it work for our kids in the classroom.
-JaNae Bryant
ps. I copied this into a Word document to run a spell check. I know that spelling is a weakness of mine and I see spell check as another tool that I can use. I imagine that if we were honest with ourselves, we all use it quite frequently!
My feeling is that most love freshness/newness. How boring if you get into class and it is always the same. When you give a child a new game to play you can see the excitment. I have not had one given back and said no thanks! I just now got dvr and my kids were very excitted to be showing there mom how to use it! It did not take any time for them and they were real quick to share. Nancy Heard
ReplyDeleteI HIGHLY agree that kids learn better and want to learn more if they are able to move around, be creative, and it is relevant to them. I also agree that today's students need to be immersed in technology since that is where our world has already been heading (that is the relevant part).
ReplyDeleteHowever, I feel so old-fashioned after reading some of the responses. I often feel that, because of technology, the world sometimes moves TOO fast, is ALWAYS full of noise, and is LESS "connected". These reasons are why some of our kiddos are NOT interested when we are up teaching them(because we are not fast enough for them) or are NOT able to sit for longer than 3 mins.
Yes, they are used to a fast-paced lifestyle full of images and sounds...all created FOR them. Some of them do not like to read because they can't create their OWN images from the words being read. How are students moving around and being creative when they are sitting in front of a computer having a story read to them and giving them the images?
Don't get me wrong, I do like what technology allows us to do and it can make teaching and learning fun. I just know it is hard to expect all of these wonderful things to be done when we do not have the training or the materials we need YET.
I still have students who aren't quite sure how to use a mouse. How can I expect them to make a movie, get it onto a computer, edit it, use it to teach a lesson, etc.? I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT!! I guess all of it is very intimidating to me. If Conner doesn't even consider herself a "digital native" then what am I? A fossil?
I think that technology can hook students on reading with programs like One-More-Story. The listening element combined with seeing the words can be very beneficial, especially for students who have not been read to at home. Programs for downloading books on computer & phones are becoming available to adults. However, I still prefer a good book in my hands!
ReplyDeleteCindy Adkins
Jean...first of all you crack me up! You are so not a fossil. You really got me thinking when you used the word "images." I just got through reading a research study on using the imagination and how vital it is for early readers to use this capacity to tell stories and apply it to reading.
ReplyDeleteI guess I am wondering...do our techno kids have a better imagination because of the technology or is it just provided for them? Do our kids create pictures in their heads? Storylines? What are they able to recall with great detail?
You have me thinking now...
OK, you young ones and fossils...this is the dinosaur talking! :) For this discussion, I'm going to limit my thoughts to reading and writing because that's where my world is today.
ReplyDeleteIn my huge data brain, I know that visualization is one skill that most low-level readers do not have. Pictures are in books and on the computer...but they must be created in the mind of the reader as well. Too, I know that current research supports more meaning gained while reading from a book vs. a computer screen. So...which is better for kids?
I'm with Jean when she says that sitting in front of a computer to read and sitting to read a book don't differ much where movement and activity are concerned. What I see missing here is the 'engagement of the mind.' Reading and writing are the efforts of one most of the time, and it's that one engaged mind that brings about all the content, pictures, meaning, and so much more off of the page. To me, that's what thinking is...and that's what we must teach.
'Activity' and 'engagement' are not the same thing. Whether it's through activity or sitting quietly, pencil/paper or computer, our objective MUST be to be always engaging the mind in new thinking, images, and ideas and supporting those students as they synthesize all of that glorious thinking into a ever-lasting, unforgetable production.
This week is the last full week before the TAKS writing test. By now, for their own success, the kids must be independent learners, and free from my chatter for the most part. I've been challenged this week by those entering my room, hearing me summarize the task at hand, challenging the kids to be their own thinkers, letting them go...and the other then to go around the room asking, "Now, what is it that you don't understand?" Unfortunately, we ask too long and too many times...and kids will let us do their thinking for them every single time! Whether it's to work on a technology project or anything else, we, as teachers must learn the art of carefully, yet ever so cautiously, surrendering the job of thinking at the right time to the kids...and not taking it back. And that's my thinking for our future generations...Kathy
Technology is only a tool.It out dates itself
ReplyDeleteevery 3 years.Students will always be learning
new things but let's not forget the old ways.A
computer is cold and the teacher understands
the warmth a student needs during hard times.
Sandy
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water ...we have to combine the two, the old ways give a great foundation and the new enhance the learning process. our students need nurturing as well as teaching, they will always need a book to stimulate their imaginations and a computer will help bring it to life. Our ultimate goal is to see that they are continuing to learn. As for me I prefer a "Good Book" anyday to this tecnnology!
ReplyDeleteKeeping up with technology is definitely a challenge, especially with our kids who might not be exposed to it as much. I have a roomate who teaches Kindergarten at Walker Creek, and just hearing things that her kids get for Christmas and the experiences they talk about shows how much more they are exposed to technology than our kids. So I think it is our job as teachers to provide that exposure as much as possible to our kids. If we want our kids to be successful in our changing world, we need to prepare them for it. Of course we need resources to do this. Cheryl and Renda both do such an excellent job of sharing ideas and offering trainings in order for us to have these resources and know how to use them. I know that I can definitely do a better job of taking advantage of them and exposing my kids to higher levels of technology. After seeing the video, it makes me worry about our kids. I know that I want to do all that I can to help them have a successful future. Some of our kids are already fighting an uphill battle with just not following the footsteps of their parents, so the more we can do, the better! Also, I think most kids are extremely interested in technology, and if that is a way to hook them, then we need to be taking advantage of that. If our kids are in danger of dropping out of school, which many probably are, why not use a tool like technology to create interest in school and give them a reason to stay? I have an ESL student who is having a very hard time being on grade level because of the language barrier. But the one thing he is ALWAYS excited to talk to me about is his computer at home and all the games he plays on it. So I need to be using that as a way to connect to him and provide him with ways he can learn English, letters, sounds, vocabulary, etc. using the computer since that is something he is interested in.
ReplyDeleteChildren are multi-sensory learners. Technology allows us to embrace this knowledge and utilize it to better meet the needs of our students. Why does learning have to be boring? It should be engaging, new and exciting. Our job is to inspire life long learning. Advances in technology will continue throughout the lives of our students. Students need to see that we, as educators, are willing to take risks and try new things.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think we take for granted the conveniences that we have been afforded through advances in technology. Teachers that have been teaching for more than a decade…do you remember when you had to average student grades yourself and fill out report cards by hand? What about those poor teachers who taught in an era before calculators were common tools? Email has certainly made communication parents, staff, and other individuals more convenient. Researching a topic is extremely simple courtesy of Google and other search engines. Who even uses a telephone book anymore? Yet, when I was in elementary school, most of these advances were not a concept we could visualize in our future. I cannot imagine what our world will look like ten years from now, but I welcome the advances that will help make education easier.
Wow, Kristi, you hit the nail on the head! I too worry about our kids in the future. They are at such a disadvantage already with the things they deal with at home, not to mention the fact that most of our families don't have the means to provide them with worthwhile technological experiences. The business world is embracing technological changes, and if we as educators are going to produce productive citizens we are going to have to embrace those changes as well!
ReplyDeleteThat's where the school has to step up, I think. My kids made a movie in class last year using the Small Wonder video camera and Movie Maker software about the history of the nutcracker. THEY LOVED IT! They did everything from researching the information (on the computer, of course) to helping me write the dialogue, to staging the movie, and even to suggesting we add a good joke at the end. There was never a moment they weren't engaged, and they loved seeing themselves on TV. I have to confess I haven't repeated the activity this year, but I do hope to get at least one movie project in before the end of the year.
I agree with what someone said about having the dream of every child having a laptop. I envision a future where that happens, and all of our textbooks are accessible to our students only by computer. I read in the Star Telegram last weekend of a pilot class in Keller ISD where the kids are learning to use smart phones. Their assignments for class are completed on these phones and posted to the teacher from those phones as well. I thought that was really cool.
I thought about Connor when I was watching the video at the beginning of this posting. I do want him to be exposed to all of the technology he can as a part of his education, and if I am expecting that of his teachers, then I have to be willing to practice what I preach. My goal is to become more aware as a teacher (try to lose my fossil status, so to speak) so that I can provide those opportunities to my students.
WOW---I'm with Kristy, sometimes I don't feel like I'm doing enough for my kids with technology even though I have 'high hopes'. I've allowed myself to be 'overwhelmed' with some things while looking over other things I could be incorporating.
ReplyDeleteI feel it is important for kids to have that tangible item we know as a 'book' where they can get their hands on them. Since most kids can not focus long, if they are looking at a screen watching a book be read to them they do lose interest. However, if they have someone in front of them modeling how to read and connect the text they might have a better chance of understanding. Tammy
Digital learning seems to be the wave of the future. As educators we must expose our students to what is available today. However, we need to be careful and purposeful in what we are exposing them to, and be sure that it leads to students thinking, creating, and problem solving. I know this involves more training, time, and expertise to make this a reality. Rita
ReplyDeleteI really liked what Sandy said. It does hold true, I think we sometimes are a little impersonal. My own children could not live without modern technology, but I still encourage them to think for themselves and work some things out with their mind. Scoggins
ReplyDeleteWell, now it time for one of the oldest fossils to speak. Technology is a great tool. It can be a great asset to a teacher to help with some of her teaching techniques. My students loved it when we did research on the computer. However, before they earned that privilege they were taught how to research in the library. They still need the tools.
ReplyDeleteI love to read to my students and get into the character of the story. Sometimes I have the students lie down and close their eyes to imagine the story in their head. When they talk about what they "see", they get excited about sharing. Maybe this is where I need to use "Movie Maker" technology. However, I am like Jean...I need to learn it before I can teach it. I am way behind in the knowledge of technology. If I am to teach it, I need to be given the time and classes to learn it...Darla
Wow, I've always considered myself knowledgeable as far as technology goes, but I admit I had to look up a term or two used in the video. I have never heard of a "wiki." After seeing it again in the video Cheryl has on her technology blog, I had to look it up!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I laughed when I read our kids referred to as "techno kids" in Maegan's comment. I have techno music in my head now...
Ok, back to the topic at hand. I watched the video twice. The first time I watched, I viewed it from a teacher's perspective. A good book will never be completely replaced by technology (at least I hope it won't!) However, there are ways to further a student's learning after reading a good book. There is no reason that we cannot incorporate both into our teaching practices. We want the print in our students' hands and then should allow them to elaborate and extend using technology. I have a hard time coming up with ways to do this in PreK, but I know it can be done. That is something I will have to research more.
Also, with our population here at BES, my job as a PreK teacher is to introduce them to the technology. Some of my students have never been on a computer or used an mp3 player. I spent a lot of my time at the beginning of the year teaching how to use these things.
The second time I watched the video, I watched it as a parent. Knowing that my son will be in school in 3 years scares me to death! I hope and pray that his teachers will utilize every tool available to them to ensure his success. There are things that he will use to learn that probably haven't even been invented yet! Like Stefanie said, if I expect my child's teachers to stay current, then I need to make sure I'm doing the same.
Just like Kristy, I see my kids get excited about technology. In fact, most of my children would give up recess to spend more time in the lab.
ReplyDeleteIt is our job to get the kids excited about learning. If technology is the tool that creates the excitement, than we need to utilize it. One of my struggling readers has shown very little interest in books, however always chooses “listen to reading” as his first choice in Daily 5, and in the Literacy Lab. One morning, he ran over and was excited that he had found the book Stellaluna in our classroom library. He had listened to this book on One More Story and was finally excited to have a real book in his hands. I believe that if I had made that child sit down and look at that book, he would have not been interested in the least. However, because he had some background knowledge of the book, he was motivated to try reading it on his own.
Rita used the word purposeful. I do believe that if we are going to use technology it needs to be purposeful technology and not to keep the kids busy for 30 minutes.
Maegan commented that student learning needs to be authentic. I believe this to be true. Our generation knows the joy of holding a book and reading, our Digital Natives enjoy a keyboard at their finger tips. This is authentic learning to this generation. I am the one in my classroom asking the students to show me how they did something on the computer; show me how they navigated somewhere; etc. They take great delight in teaching me. I tell them how smart they are and how we are each learning from each other everyday. They love hearing that! I acknowledge that I am not where I should be (Technology speaking), but I am also not where I use to be. (Thank goodness) Just a few short years ago, I use to frame my computer screen with Post It notes just to remember how to turn on my computer and navigate somewhere! Why I never even use to use the word navigate!! I use to think the computer was for playing a fancy game of Solitaire. Last year my students and I learned to Podcast, and now this year we're learning to do the Moviemaker thing. Thanks to Renda I have my very first Web site. I don't Facebook but I am learning to Blog. I don't Twitter, (can you set that to music?)but I can do the Hokey-Pokey! Everything I have learned throughout my Techno journey has always been fun and I end up loving it. So, if that be the case . . . then why does it still make me so nervous? It is an amazing thought to know that students in the classroom today are being prepared for jobs that haven't even been created (or imagined) yet. We need to be doing our part in getting them prepared for their future. I was sharing with my 22 year old about the blogging BES is doing and the subject matter. One of the comments that came out of our conversation is the very real thought that by the time he has children going through school; classrooms will be "paperless." Can you imagine? Some teacher somewhere will be grading their students . . . what(?). . . Flash Drives!??! Oh wait! Their already doing that!! DeWayna
ReplyDeleteI love reading these responses! It makes me proud to work at a school where teachers put the needs of kids first & are willing to go out of their comfort zone to reach their students.
ReplyDeleteJaNae - I love the attitude you have of expectancy & excitement! I think we sometimes look at technology as the ‘killer’ of our current ways- comfortable ways that we value. Sometimes we forget the many ways technology has blessed us & provided for needs (medically, socially, educationally…) Change is scary, & it’s hard, but if we look at technology as our partner to meet the needs of our children, we’ve already taken the first step toward success!
DeWayna – I LOVE this statement: “They take great delight in teaching me. I tell them how smart they are and how we are each learning from each other everyday. They love hearing that!” That is just so cool, I don't know what else to say!
When I first read Mick’s prompt, I thought, “Gee Boss, when you put it that way, it’s just all sunshine & rainbows!” For those you who don’t know me well, that would be my ‘gift’ of sarcasm coming out. The truth is technology is out of control – we can’t keep up. And for all of us control freaks out there – that’s scary. As I said in response to JaNae, change is scary, & often (if not always) technology represents change. I think this is why we have such strong emotions when it comes to discussing this topic.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is education is changing. This does NOT mean ‘old’ ways = bad, and ‘new’ ways = good. It means we have more tools than ever to help us meet the needs of our kids. It also means our jobs are becoming more and more focused on teaching kids how to think. Kids might not need us to tell them the capital of Mississippi, or the freezing point of water (they can google it!), but they will always need teachers to help them learn the significance of information, to spur them on to deeper levels of understanding, and help them connect and apply the ‘exponential’ amounts of information they now have at their fingertips.
So, as we learn to embrace the change & give up a little bit of that control we cling to, we open the door to new learning - not just for our kiddos, but for ourselves.
I think that DeWayna said it best..."I acknowledge that I am not where I should be (Technology speaking), but I am also not where I use to be. (Thank goodness)."
ReplyDeleteAs all of you have stated, it is important that we integrate technology within our lessons. However we do need to realize that we are learners too. As I mentioned in the original post, I am attending some technology luncheons to try to learn all of the new tools out there. As Katie mentioned, the technology tools that are available to us are constantly changing and multiplying! How do we keep up? Which tools should we use? Which ones should we learn? Why don't we just give up? Because our students need us to be learners also.
I remember back to my first year of teaching, when I was one day, no one step ahead of my students. Sometimes they would ask me questions, and I was unsure of the answer. They appreciated the fact that I could admit that, and that we would discover the answer together. We can still do that folks. Our students can help us learn how to use these tools.
I know because I used to be that child who in middle school was fearless with the "new" computers. I was not afraid to press this button or that just to see what this new machine would do. Even in my teaching career, I was the person that my teammates would call in the middle of class to fix their printer. It is just now that I feel incompetent with techology.
Within the last two months, I have learned how to Facebook, blog, and Twitter. During the last six months, I have learned that taking an online course is in some aspects harder than a face to face one. We are all learners in this journey, let's help each other out!
Well, here I am. Not fossilized yet, but definitely PETRIFIED!!! Being a first year teacher at 40 has welcomed me with challenges daily and often me not knowing how to answer them yet. Technology is one of them. Like DeWayna, I'm much more knowledgeable than I was 20 years ago, but my students are in places I never dreamed of when I was their age! I don't mind telling you that I have no idea how to answer these questions. I do agree with several others that their needs to be a happy medium somewhere between teachers and technology. I know that for me I will be looking to see where I will be fitting in and be searching for those answers every day! Like others, my students teach me new things all the time and think it's "awesome" that teachers are always learning. If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times to my kids. Learning never stops no matter how old you are! It's up to us to take charge of our own learning and one way to do that is by keeping up with the world!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Laura T. that we can incorporate technology and books. I agree that students need to hold the book in their hands and listen to teachers read books. Laura was right that we can integrate both together.
ReplyDeleteLike Jana said the WOW conference really made me realize that we need to be letting the students take control of their learning. Students love to have control. In my classroom I have really started to give them more choices. When they have the ability to choose how they want to learn I think that become more engaged and want to learn.
Kristy said that our students have very little exposure to technology at home and it is our job to give them that at school. I think about this alot. It is important that our students learn about all the new technology so that they can be successful adults in the future. It is our job to let them explore technology at school so that they will know that there is so much more to life.
What interesting posts. So many great thoughts. I too love reading a book and can't imagine reading a book on a "kindle". But, in the future it wouldn't be surprising if most students will be using them to read from. Technology is expanding extremely fast. I agree that as a teacher I can't compete with technology in the sense that students will desire to use technology to learn rather than hear a lecture to gain knowledge. So, I will need to utilize what I can to engage my students in what they find desirable and provide them the tools and provide them myself to gain the knowledge they will need for their up and coming world of education.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is difficult to keep up with our fast paced technology world! Some days I feel like I have to “entertain” rather than teach just to keep our student’s focus. I just came back from a music teacher’s conference – one of our session topics was just what we are talking about. The comment that our students are now “Music consumers” rather than “music makers” came up several times. I agree that we have to “do” to learn. I sat in tons on music education classes in college but I think learned so much more when I was in a real classroom!
ReplyDeleteLaura T and Kristy said what I would have liked to have said...only they said it sooner and better than I could have said it.
ReplyDeleteMick's question was:
How would you write these new learning standards in a way that would incorporate a future that we may not be able to imagine yet?
I believe that we must establish our learning standards to be open-ended when it comes to technology...but as Laura T said...still include the elements that are the foudation for all learning. You can do both--have expectations for our students that are simply good to have if you're a human (how to spell, how to use your imagination, how to tap into their minds and engage themselves)...as well as have expectations for our students that challenge their technological minds.