Mobile conference puts the focus on learning models

Around the world, 6.5 million mobile device contracts exist — making tools like smartphones and tablets an indispensable, and necessary part of life. How can this technological shift benefit students in classrooms though? That seems to always be the subject of debate, with some people claiming more technology for K-12 kids is needed and now, while others say that learning is being sacrificed for the sake of flashy technology.
Education and technology leaders debated the best ways to continue incorporating classroom technology across the globe and how to help it reach areas that do not yet have it in place at the recent Education Fast Forward event. The focus was on how to improve digital technology and and success stories were part of the discussions. Professor Miguel Nussbaum of Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile was among the the speakers and he talked about how his developments are leading to better integration of technology in classrooms in India, the U.K. and the U.S.
In talking about his research with the Huffington Post, Nussbaum said that while Chile has tried to implement its own practices when it comes to teaching and technology, his ideas are more integrated with the actual material.
“The main problem is that government lead projects have been targeted to introduce technology without considering the pedagogical practices that are associated to produce learning,” he said.
Though he is talking about his home country, I think his point is well received here in the U.S. too. While I applaud the government’s involvement in ensuring that technology learning and equipment is reaching classrooms, I do think that some of the responsibility should be given to educators themselves and even private entities that can bring in greater levels of innovation for students.
Who do you think should carry the technology responsibility when it comes to K-12 schools?
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Interesting. I do think that other cultures likely learn differently than ours, so I’m not sure a direct relationship between what works there and what works here makes complete sense. But this is an interesting model that could do some good here in the U.S.
It seems like there is already plenty of technology available in the U.S. — I don’t know why we don’t put more focus on that.
Yes because now we should be depending on other countries to tell us how to educate our kids too. What a terrible idea.