THING 4

My most common memory of education is of a teacher usually standing in the front of the room while the students compile page after page of notes and then later take the weekly test to see what we memorized. I can still hear the clicking of the projector as the movie reel turns around and lulls me to sleep. We spent a lot of time sitting in our desks, pulling out the next textbook and turning the pages. Normally we were encouraged to remain silent and always raise our hands with comments. Once in a while we were able to work as a group or create something spectacular using the material we were studying. We relied heavily on dictionaries and encyclopedias when looking up correct spellings or studying the countries of the world.

Teachers today realize the importance of movement being included in the curriculum and delivering materials in a diversified manner, meeting the needs of all individual learners. Students are exposed to materials using different methods of delivery and synthesizing such as hands-on manipulation, small and large groups, visually and auditory, and so on. Modern technology has enabled them to experience vast amounts of information from computer sources and utilize equipment for further learning (digital cameras, smart boards, phonic ears, cd's and dvd's, etc.). When reporting on countries around the world, students today can speak with citizens from that country, conduct speedy research, and access tons of current information.

Education has truly been enhanced with the additional modern technology, but the basic premise of education is still the same. Students need to comprehend, understand and utilize the information, they need to problem solve and be able to synthesize materials, memorize, and carry the knowledge with them for future learning.