Thing 6 Technologically Illiterate?

In order to teach it, we have to do it. How can we teach this to kids, how can we model it, if we aren’t literate ourselves? You need to experience this, you need to explore right along with your students. You need to experience the tools they’ll be using in the 21st century, developing your own networks in parallel with your students. You need to demonstrate continual learning, lifelong learning – for your students, or you will continue to teach your students how to be successful in an age that no longer exists.

I agree with this statement 100%. The digital immigrants need to be lifelong learners and take the time to experiment with technology in order to provide a better learning environment for the digital natives. Our students need to be prepared for the 21st century. Problem is schools do not have the money, the time, and sometimes the technology to prepare the teachers. I find technology often is given to teachers with the expectation they will use it. Yes, we need to experiment with it, play with it, get it to work, but wouldn't a little training and support be a wonderful thing! Wouldn't it be wonderful if our students or even our digital native teachers were to mentor the digital immigrants, just as the new teachers are required to have an experienced mentor teacher for four years. It is all about learning together, experimenting together, making mistakes together to grow with technology.