#1 Textbook Readings, ITSE Standards, and Digital Natives

          Incorporating and being influenced by technology is one of the most important aspects of the modern classroom.  For one thing it keeps students interested and focused on the task at hand.  There is no longer a need for an instructor to give dry lectures day in and day out.  Teachers are able to incorporate the different learning styles of their students and make sure that what is being taught is also being understood.  These learning styles tend to combine visual and kinesthetic needs which is perfect for the technology of today with advents such as gesture computing.  When students can have a hands on approach to what they are learning, they are far more likely to be interested and comprehend the concepts being taught.  Technology will also only grow in importance in the lives of the students, so to get them knowledgable with modern tech sets them up quite nicely for the world they will be entering.  While it is very helpful with students, it is also very helpful for teachers to stay organized.  As more and more public schools are giving teachers their own personal websites, they have a way to keep their assignments, syllabi, and contact information in one organized and easily accessible place.

          The ISTE standards for students are fantastic to see as they are pushing for the classroom to progress in the world rather than stay stuck in the past.  It is good to see that there are people out there that don't listen to the Luddites of our world and promote the use of tech to further our nation's posterity.  Each of the seven steps support the idea of students communicating with one another and across the globe as well as being creative and innovative in how they go about their educational career.  These ideas fit well along with the standards set for instructors.  Each of the teaching standards focus on being supportive of both students and the technology that is being used.  Teachers are expected to learn about the tech along with the students to be able to guide them in class and in life on the proper uses.  Teachers are expected to be there for the students to show them how wide their world can be if they are able to open it up with technology.  Progression is very possible with the opportunities many students are given in the modern classroom and they need their instructors to show them the way.

          To be born as a digital native and a millennial I feel as though we are often looked down upon by previous generations.  We were thrust into a world with technology that is absolutely astounding, yet are at times treated as though it is our fault that we were born at this time in history.  That being said I am not in anyway attempting to speak poorly of all digital immigrants.  As stated in the podcast there are many digital natives that prefer to live their life as Luddites and many digital immigrants that relish the fact that they too get to live in a world with the bountiful technology we have today.  For example, I had the privilege of having a guest musical conductor for a concert that I performed in, high school, who loved technology.  He was an older man, approximately in his sixties, and would rave about how if there was a new piece of technology out he would be first in line to purchase it and figure out its workings.  It was very refreshing to see someone like him respecting and admiring how fascinating technology really is and not shunning it.  However I have also had many teachers that refused to learn about new tech and would constantly belittle us digital natives for having it so easy growing up in a world of cell phones and personal computers.  Just from personal experience, it is obvious that the gap between digital natives and immigrants is quite wide and it is very important to bridge it.  By teaching students and informing teachers on the usefulness of technology, I believe that it can be done.