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During my reading for my Masters program this week I was assigned the most interesting article by Solomon and Schrum entitled __Web 2.0: new tools, New schools__. During my studies I found this quote “Learning a new language requires the development of listening, speaking, and memory skills. Finding new approaches and using varied methodologies is beneficial to both the teacher and the learner” (Solomon, Schrum 2007). I have often heard older teachers express their frustration with the coming generation because they feel they speak a “different Language”. I myself have only occasionally encountered such a phenomena in my career. I attribute this to the fact that the generation gap is not so great between my students and myself. Yet as I contemplate my actions I believe I have strived to stay up do date on things that are important to students in order to make a connection with them. For example I enjoy video games; and I purposely try out ones that are popular with my students. In so doing this I stay familiar with their medium and they see me as a person with whom they can relate. Plus video games are fun.


 * [[image:texasteachingandtechnology:dragon-age-001.jpg align="center" caption="Dragon Age: a game by Bioware that promotes critical thinking and real time problem solving skills. www.bioware.com "]] ||
 * Dragon Age: a game by Bioware that promotes critical thinking and real time problem solving skills. www.bioware.com ||

Then I came across this quote in the same article; “ You will notice that there are not a lot of examples as of yet in which an entire school system has reconceptualized itself to incorporate technology in order to promote an environment that supports, sustains, and even requires a pedagogical approach that includes inquiry, creativity, and full integration of technology" (Solomon, Schrum 2007). There are a lot of instances where school districts have dragged their preverbal feet on “reconceptualizing” their technology yet I wonder if it is the responsibility of the district to provide complete technology immersion of should the teacher take greater initiative and increase their technological understanding on their own? Like much in life I would say the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I know, as I grow older it will continue to be a challenge to stay up to date with what the kids are doing. Yet in a way I feel it is my professional responsibility to do so. Districts should provide a rich and encompassing technologically advanced environment but the teachers should lead the way and not be taught every little thing in endless professional developments. How is it that we still have teachers, librarians and other professionals who don’t have the computer skills to perform a simple task like minor editing of a picture, or knowing that excel spreadsheets can have multiple tabs. We will never be truly innovative in our approaches if we are always playing catch up by using methodologies that were current last year.

Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). Web 2.0: New tools, New schools. Eugene, OR International Society for Technology in Educatio n