Florida: Pioneer or Poser of Education?

            Consider this: Every day adolescents spend seven and a half hours on electronic devices (Lewin). The classroom environment is being stripped of attention due to the connected web based culture. The interaction of electronics at a young age fosters a seemingly innate capability of usage. By the time kids reach adolescence they are fully functioning members of the online community. The only time not spent online is when they are not in school. In the past this great divide has been looked upon as an asset, but recent studies are showing how the use of electronic tools in the classroom can motivate students. It is the responsibility of the Florida Department of Education to assure that teaching methods are growing and adapting under the “Florida Technology Plan”.

            Researchers Chandler-Olcott and Mahar set out to explore early adolescent girls’ use of digital technologies in their literacy practices. They collected datum from 2 seventh-grade girls; one runs an anime-focused webpage; the other participant runs a similar anime webpage but focuses more on fanfictions. Their conclusions found that adolescents were motivated by the use of electronic tools and benefited from the digital community. More surprisingly, they found that “expertise related to tool use in an activity system does not always flow from older to younger participant” (Chandler-Olcott, and Mahar 356-385). Adolescents’ exposure to digital culture at a young age leads to a familiarization that cannot be matched by adults. Incorporating digital aspects to classrooms will not only keep students more intrigued, but give way to digital classroom community from which data and trends can be extracted.

            The New York Times recently published an article expressing the difficulties in teaching students of the digital age. “There is a widespread belief among teachers that students’ constant use of digital technology is hampering their attention spans and ability to persevere in the face of challenging tasks, according to two surveys of teachers being released on Thursday” (Ritchel). Technology has engulfed the lives of adolescents, but has failed to effectively integrate itself into the classroom. The importance of technological integration in all spheres is vital to the future. The more balanced its use the more likely it will head in a favorable direction.

            Teachers are currently facing the obstacle of engaging their students. Hope Molina-Porter, a High School English teacher, expressed her courage in facing the challenge of engaging her students while acknowledging her worry that technology was causing a deeper shift in the way that students learned. The PEW Research Center has been monitoring similar issues through its “Internet Project”, which focuses in on technology related research. Kristen Purcell, the associate director of research at PEW, stated: the education system must adjust to better accommodate the way students learn, a point that some teachers brought up in focus groups themselves (Ritchel).

            The Florida Technology Plan, originally adopted in 2009, is the state of Florida’s attempt to “transform the learning environment for students and educators to promote the dynamic, responsive, and innovative learning supported by appropriate technology tools” ("Charting a Course for Information and Communication Technology in Florida's Schools"). Master Digital Educators (MDE) are appointed to guide and track the plans progress. This petition is to increase the number of Master Digital Educators in the state of Florida. Currently 94 MDE’s look over 40 districts. In order to assure the Florida Technology Plan is being implemented the State, not the districts, needs to increase its funding to hire more MDE’s. Having more trained instructional technology staff lies at the root of it’s success.

Sir Kevin Robinsons Animated Lecture on the British Education System

            The modernization of education systems is a worldwide issue as outlined in Creativity Expert Sir Kevin Robinsons lecture on Changing Paradigms. Sir Robinson addresses the current characteristics of British educational systems that limit the open flow of creativity that he believes to be of utmost importance in the learning process. Although he focuses on creativity, his conclusions can be used to support a call to reform the American education system. “The problem is, they are trying to meet the future by doing what they did in the past and on the way they are alienating millions of kids who don’t see any purpose in going to school” (Robinson). The implementation of modern technology to the classroom is capable of catalyzing a creative revolution that could make the state of Florida an educational pioneer.

            Teachers and Creativity Experts alike agree that the time has come to incorporate more technology to the classroom environment. Students have become accustomed to the overly stimulating nature of the electronic medium. So much so that the real world has translated itself to the Internet and become an integral part of modern civilization. Increasing the number of skilled administrative entities will catalyze the advancements outlined in the “Florida Technology Plan.” We believe the plan is a solid platform that can catapult our education system into the future and urge you to increase funding for instructional staff.

                                                           

                                                                          Works Cited

            Chandler-Olcott, Kelly, and Donna Mahar. "“Tech-savviness” meets multiliteracies: Exploring adolescent girls’ technology- mediated literacy practices." Reading Research Quarterly. 38.3 (2003): 356-385. Print.

            Lewin, Tamar. "If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online." New York Times [New York City] 20 1 2010, n. pag. Web. 6 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html>.

            Ritchel, Matt. "Technology Changing How Students Learn, Teachers Say." New York Times [New York City] 1 11 2012, n. pag. Web. 6 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/education/technology-is-changing-how-students-learn-teachers-say.html?pagewanted=all>.

            Robinson, Sir Ken. "Changing Paradigms - How we implement sustainable change in education." RSA/Edge Lecture. UK, London. 16 06 2008. Address.

            United States. Florida. Charting a Course for Information and Communication Technology in Florida's Schools. Tallahassee: , 2009. Web. <http://floridatechplan.org>.