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Should teachers be required to be computer literate?  Should they be required to integrate technology into their classroom?  Provide rationale to support your stance.

I am completely for teachers having to be computer literate. We have to use the technologies that are available and that the kids will be using in the future. Obviously they will be using technology way more advanced than what they will see today, but they MUST be exposed to it. 

Three reasons...
#1- Its expected of the rising generation to know how to use the technology for work, not just play, where else is a better laboratory to show them how to use it productively.
#2- "No Child Left Behind" is a common and popular mantra among school districts, so we had better ensure the kids are up to speed on available technology.
#3- They can't be scared of the technology. They have to be proficient in order to compete in the future workplace.

I remember a handout my Junior English teacher handed out to us at the beginning of the semester. She was encouraging us to use the technology available to us, (I just think that she was tired of reading handwritten papers!)  It had some quotes from parents and teachers who didn't want certain "education enhancing" devices allowed in class. Those devices that were included were, the lead pencil, the pencil sharpener, the typewriter, and the computer. 

Check out this link of ads for a MAC, I am not condoning, I just thought they were funny! 


As you can plainly see these are all important and useful tools that do indeed enhance the educational possibilities of the students. Our teacher although she could have been catagorized as (old, or experienced) understood correlation of technology and better education.

Our students need teachers who talk their tech language and who are up to speed with the advancements that are being made. They don't have to be young, but they must be willing to learn.

Post #2

What technology do you use on a regular basis? How has technology changed your personal or educational life?

What technology do I use on a regular basis? You mean besides my pencil shapener, electric lights, and computers? I really can't think of a single thing that I use daily that isn't some form of a technological advance. We have progressed quite a ways from charcoal drawing on cave walls, to transferring data through fiber-optik cable, (not to mention blu-tooth, etc.) I LOVE TECHNOLOGY

It seems that someone has tried to improve everything in someway or another. Either its stronger, bigger, lasts longer or just better.

This has given us so much more time to devote to whatever else we feel to do with it. We don't have to spend hours each day preparing and cleaning up meals for example, we have dishwashers that help with clean-up. We can then study about genetics or investments to save someone or just to make more money.

Really if you just sit and think about it there is nothing that technology hasn't improved, from out lighting needs to our ability to communicate with each other.

Educationally speaking there is so much more available, and so much more accessible, just the internet has opened up volumes of information (Its going to sound cliche) that is available to anyone with a connection.

Personally, I can listen to any song I want pretty much anytime I want. I just have to know its name, or the artist or just a line. gone are the days of waiting for the radio to play my favorite song, I can just find it, read the lyrics, listen to 6 different artist and even buy it online! Like this song under pressure, by a group of vocalists.

Technology allows me to post not just text but pics and videos! Awesome!