Teaching Question

"Given the realities of our modern age and the demands of our children's future, is it really ok to allow teachers to choose whether or not they incorporate modern technologies into their instruction?"

I believe that there is not one set formula for teaching. Each teacher should continuously be learning and reflecting about the world and their students, and come up with the best plan for each situation. In general, I think it is important to expose students to modern technology for 2 reasons: first, because they will need to know the technology in order to be competitive and successful in their fields. Also, they must understand the current technology in order to be able to keep up with the constant improvements that will be made. Second, if used correctly, technology can help students learn by allowing them to interact with the information in multiple ways, and therefore understand and internalize it better. However, teachers should take care that students do not become so reliant on technology that they are incapable by themselves. Ideally, students should be able to use advanced programs to do advanced mathematics, but they should not need to turn to a calculator for more basic math. To answer the question, teachers should be required to use technology in their classrooms, but they should be allowed to choose how and how much it is used.