The document discusses the changing role of teachers in engaging students in learning with technology. It notes that today's students often find school uninteresting and do not see the relevance of what they learn. It contrasts boring traditional teaching methods like lengthy lectures and worksheets with more engaging approaches that incorporate students' interests, collaborative projects, and 21st century tools. The key impacts of technology on education highlighted are increased connectivity, collaboration, teachers taking more of a guiding role, and a focus on developing expert thinking and complex communication skills for students. It concludes that technology allows more in-depth and interactive exploration of topics that were previously impractical.

1. ReflectionEDUC 6710I-3: Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and SocietyFebruary 20, 2011Margaret M. RidgewayEngaging Students in Learning:The Changing Role of Teachers

2. Yesterday’s Classroom1

3. What They Think “Studies show that by their senior year, barely one-fourth of today’s students agree that school is meaningful or their courses are interesting – and less than half believe what they learn in school will have any bearing on their success in life.” (Nussbaum-Beach, 2008)

4. The Choices32

5. The DifferenceHow to BORE your students:Have them read only their textbookLecture them for an hourGive them a worksheetHave them write their vocabulary 10 times, then write a sentenceGive them a testDo it again the next dayYou will succeedHow to ENGAGE your students:Find out what they are interested in and use itLet them make decisions about their learningProvide them with collaborative endeavors that challenge themUse 21st Century tools that allow their creativity to shine throughYou will succeed

6. A New Day Dawns in Education4

7. What the Changes MeanConnectivity – create projects globally without worrying about the time and place (Richardson, 2010).Collaboration – provides opportunities for a variety of viewpoints (Laureate International, Inc., 2008).Teachers become guides for students into the world of knowledge rather than simply a source of information (Richardson, 2010).Teachers must be knowledgeable about technology so that it can be used most effectively (Keengwe, Onchwari & Wachira, 2008).The goal – 21st Century skills: expert thinking and complex communication (Levy & Murnane, 2006).

8. Let Them Reach for the Stars“Technology enables users to explore topics in more depth and in more interactive ways. Technology also makes accessible the study of topics that were previously impractical.” (Bull & Bull, 2003)5

9. REFERENCES:Bull, G. & Bull, G. (2003), The digital disconnect, Learning & Leading with Technology, 31(4). Retrieved from EBSCO host.Keengwe, J, Onchwari, G, & Wachira, P. (2008). The use of computer tools to support meaningful learning. AACE Journal, 16(1). Retrieved from EBSCO host.Laureate Education, Inc., (Executive Producer) (2008). Program 11, Skills for the 21st Century [Video]. Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society, Los Angeles: Laureate Education, Inc. Levy, F., & Murnane, R. J. (2006). Why the changing American economy calls for twenty-first century learning: Answers to educators' questions. New Directions for Youth Development, 2006(110), 53-62. Retrieved from EBSCO host.Nussbaum-Beach, S. (2008). No limits. Technology & Learning, 28(7), 14–18. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/article/8466Richardson, Will. (2010). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

10. Photography Credits:All photos retrieved from flickr.com under license as shown:School Children in Keene, New Hampshire. Keene Public Library and the Historical Society of Cheshire County, believed to be in the public domain.Leland Melvin meets with Elementary School Students. From NASA HQ photostream, under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.Portrait of a Bored Boarder. From lightmanx5 / ~JOSh-X, under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license.Apollo 12 View of Solar Eclipse. NASA, believed to be in the public domain.Space shuttle liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center: Merritt Island, Florida. NASA, believed to be in the public domain.