The document discusses the role of education in preparing students for the 21st century. It advocates for student-centered learning where students gather information with teacher guidance, engage in hands-on activities, and demonstrate learning in various ways. It also emphasizes collaborative learning, with students working together to discover, discuss, and construct meaning from information. Education should provide context so students understand how skills apply outside the classroom and are motivated to learn. Finally, it lists important functions of educational technology like improving teaching and learning, developing curriculum and materials, and identifying community needs.